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Treason is punishable by death... (Original Post) leftofthestorm Jan 2021 OP
I think they all do, don't they? SheltieLover Jan 2021 #1
Yes it is, and for very serious reasons pandr32 Jan 2021 #2
The lawyers will tell you that this is not treason Miguelito Loveless Jan 2021 #3

SheltieLover

(57,073 posts)
1. I think they all do, don't they?
Fri Jan 8, 2021, 09:21 AM
Jan 2021

Those who coconspired to overthrow our government, kidnap officials, etc?

That's the way our founders wrote the law...

Miguelito Loveless

(4,438 posts)
3. The lawyers will tell you that this is not treason
Fri Jan 8, 2021, 10:11 AM
Jan 2021

as defined by law. We are not at war.

From a discussion by CBS News:

Treason is the only crime that is explicitly defined in the U.S. Constitution, which describes it as when someone "owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere."

The Constitution says that a person convicted of treason should "suffer death," or be imprisoned for at least five years and fined at least $10,000, in addition to being banned from holding office. But it adds that no one can be convicted of treason "unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act or on confession in open court."

Now, you and I can look at this and say, "game, set, match", but lawyers specialize in twisting words completely out of context, so everyone in the legal profession keeps saying that treason does not apply unless we are at war.

I disagree, but I am not a lawyer.
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