Just so you know...American Law on Treason

[ashredux]

Whoever, 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, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 807; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(2)(J), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2148.)

[doc03]

1. The excuse we are not at war. In my opinion many things in

Constitution need updated for the 21st century. Today the protections in the Constitution are outdated
and it seems nothing can be enforced.

[ashredux]

3. Definitions...." levies war "...A declaration of war by Congress May not be needed...enemy "levies"

[Cicada]

5. Deadly force, combat, at least bombs or shooting etc., required

The Supremes have interpreted the words to mean war in the old fashioned sense. The only people who can be charged with treason today are those who have joined or are helping Al Qaeda or Isis.

[ashredux]

6. Well, Benedict Arnold would like a do-over

The Law states “aid or comfort”....hmmm

[Cicada]

7. Yes, aiding or abetting works

That’s why I wrote “or are helping.”

I wonder if helping Russia get into G7 Knowing they engage in helping Jihadis shoot Americans counts. Probably too remote.

[NutmegYankee]

10. That requires adherence to the enemy.

For instance, Confederate soldiers were traitors making war while the civilians of the CSA had "adhered" to it and were providing aid and comfort (through taxes and supplying goods).

[Lonestarblue]

8. The SC needs to look at the definition again.

To me, the important word here is “or.” If the founders meant that treason could only occur in war, wouldn’t they have used “and”? “Or” connotes ether war or help for enemies, of which Russia is one, rather than a declared war being a precondition for treason.

[Scarsdale]

9. Countless members of the gop

are also guilty. They have enabled this orange clown from day one. What about the delegation that spent last July 4th in Moscow? What the HELL were they doing there, especially on July 4th? Moscow Mitch is knee deep in this, he is partners with a Russian oligarch, on a company being set up in Kentucky. Wanna bet any Russian workers will get permits to work here in the US if they apply at Moscow Mitch's company? What this country needs is more Russian mafia members spread all over the country.

[c-rational]

13. +1

[yellowdogintexas]

20. I sent a link on this to Rep Grainger yesterday on her FB page I was not the first

I have the great misfortune to live in her district.

The good news is that I was by no means the first person to post about it there.

Next stop: Twitter.

We have a certain Retired Air Force Colonel running for Congress who is going to tear into this like a mad dog.

You should see her face when she talks about swearing an oath to protect the Constitution from all enemies "foreign AND domestic"

[ChazInAz]

17. It's our natural state.

We have been in an almost constant state of war for nearly 250 years.

[paleotn]

24. Or the Taliban...

both the Afghan and Pakistan franchises.

[bucolic_frolic]

16. Our sovereignty has been violated in elections, in cyberspace hacking

and these actions happened domestically, inside our borders. That's even worse than when in earlier times, our vessels were attached and sailors impressed in international waters.

[KPN]

14. It doesn't need updating. All we need is prudent, patriotic Americans loyal to the Constitution

in the Senate and on the SCOTUS to interpret the Constitution in today's context. Only a fool would hang his/her hat on the notion that we are not at war when a foreign power has and continues to operate diligently in an effort to create massive instability in our country, including interfering in elections, for the purpose of undermining our democracy, government and standing in the world. Russia is waging war against us and other democratic nations. We are at war whether we want to be or not. Ignoring that fact is treason in itself.

[WinstonSmith4740]

26. Very true...

There's a lot of updating needed, but that's why the Founders allowed for amendments. Unfortunately an update would mean a Constitutional Convention, and the entire Constitution would be opened up for a rewrite. There's no way this current crop of "leaders" can be trusted with that. Amending it is long and frustrating...think ERA. But we just can't let these bastards lose on it.

[brooklynite]

2. Do you have two witnesses?

Set III Sec 3: Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

The Constitution suprecedes statute.

[ashredux]

4. Pretty sure several know and witnessed him being briefed....

[Igel]

11. Read the report.

Several officials said
that they had been told that
the president had been briefed ... weeks after the briefly is said to have taken place when this information was made more widespread.

No eyewitnesses there, just hearsay. It's unclear if more than one person told the NYT's informants or if it was just one person. It's unclear if that that person or persons informing the informats were reporting hearsay or were witnesses. Unclear if the briefing was a line in a 20 page report or if it was front and center in the spoken/AV presentation.

It's like the ABC report on the COVID briefing from late November. One report over something not very likely--mass disruptions, ambulances, etc., in Wuhan that somehow nobody noticed. With the first real-time report showing up in December. The ABC report deserved to be ignored, but not forgotten.

The NYT story's alleged briefing involved a report. In the report it was concluded that it was "likely" (not 100% sure, that) something had happened. Highly likely? Likely with low confidence? Don't know--it would have said more than "likely", because (I believe) such reports carry an appraisal of the appraisal, at least the ones that have been made public through the legal means.

That something was a Russian agency's offering money to the Taliban for attacks on Americans.

The NYT said that they didn't have any information on whether any actual attacks occurred as a result, so no what/where/when. Or if any money had been paid for any attacks. They surmised it was the GRU, but it was gap-filling based on ... what's likely.

The information came from the interrogations (by somebody--maybe US, maybe Afghan government) of captured Taliban. There's no claim that the Taliban captured were actually present to see what they reported on or if that was also hearsay--perhaps third or fourth hand, the NYT didn't say because it didn't know. And at some point all the "we don't knows" have to start making people question what we *do* know.

The main story is that the claim that there was a briefing. But even that's at least twice removed from the reporter and is covered in fuzziness.

[ashredux]

12. One or more will blow a whistle soon.....this is HOT.

[yellowdogintexas]

22. I just hope this does not backfire like the W AWOL incident did on Dan Rather nt

[paleotn]

25. Doubtful that would be an issue.

[ashredux]

15. Are you a Real Patriot...

If you vote for a President who did NOTHING when Russia paid a bounty to Afghanistan militants to kill US soldiers...then you cannot call yourself a Patriot.

[yaesu]

18. he needs to be impeached, again & no, it isn't a waste of time, take that criminal barr

with the trash also.

[The Blue Flower]

19. "levies war against them or adheres to their enemies"

OR is the operative word. It doesn't specify that it only applies in a time of war. In this case, the president is complicit in the murder of American troops.

[radical noodle]

21. Adheres to their enemies.

A country that puts a bounty on the heads of American soldiers is an enemy.

[Mr. Ected]

23. If by giving aid or comfort the founders also included doing nothing and looking the other way

Whilst the enemy pinpointed Americans on foreign soil and placed bounties on their heads...

...we have treasonous behavior on the part of the so-called President.

Perhaps impeachment IS too good for him.

Ready the firing squad.