Retired US military officers urge government to cancel livestream of Fort Hood shooter's execution

"We ask the President, our Congressional representatives, and our fellow citizens to act to prevent this barbaric abuse of authority," a letter from over 70 retired military officials read. 

A group of 72 retired United States generals, admirals, and other high-ranking military officers wrote an open letter to the US government on Wednesday, urging it to cancel the planned livestream of the execution of Nidal Hasan.

"We ask the President, our Congressional representatives, and our fellow citizens to act to prevent this barbaric abuse of authority," the letter read.

According to the retired officials, executing Nidal Hasan in such a public manner could turn him into a martyr.

Other objections to the livestream of the execution by firing squad detailed in the letter included that it could constitute a violation of the US Constitution's protections against cruel and unusual punishment, and that it would turn what should be a "solemn and grave punishment" into a "carnival for the enjoyment of voyeurs and spectators."

"This type of exploitative broadcasting - that debases human dignity- will taint the honor of the military that employs it, and a nation that allows it," the retired officials wrote.

Trump reconsidering livestream plans after learning Hasan uses wheelchair

The letter followed reports that US President Donald Trump was wavering on whether to livestream the execution after learning that Hasan was paralyzed from the waist down and uses a wheelchair, CNN reported on Wednesday.

According to multiple officials, Trump was not initially aware that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth would be announcing the livestream of the execution, and polled several advisers and allies on how he should proceed.

“There are two thoughts: Don’t show it and show it," Trump told reporters over the weekend. "Because, you know, by showing it, maybe other people won’t be doing what he did. So, I’ll make a decision ultimately. I know what the military would like to do, but we’ll make a decision.”

Sources also told CNN that the Pentagon was reevaluating the livestream plans, and that even if it did go ahead, footage would likely be cut before shots were fired.

Hasan sentenced to execution after mass shooting in military base medical facility

A military jury sentenced Hasan to death in August 2013, after finding him guilty of 45 counts of premeditated murder and attempted premeditated murder for opening fire with a laser-sighted handgun in a medical facility at the sprawling central Texas military base.

The shooting came weeks before Hasan, now 56, was scheduled to be deployed to Afghanistan. He was left partially paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair after being shot by police during his arrest.