The Rude Pundit: This Horrible Belief About the Election and What to Do With It

[malthaussen]

32. U.S. Code is quite specific on treason.

18 US Code, Section 2381:

"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."

18 US Code, Section 2382:

"Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States and having knowledge of the commission of any treason against them, conceals and does not, as soon as may be, disclose and make known the same to the President or to some judge of the United States, or to the governor or to some judge or justice of a particular State, is guilty of misprision of treason and shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than seven years, or both."

Does the Russian hacking constitute an act of war? Did Mr Trump have knowledge of it, and assist it in any way, or keep silent on it? If yes, and he abetted, then he is guilty of conspiring to levy war on the U.S., which is treason. If he only kept silent, then arguably he is guilty only of misprision of treason, although that's one for the lawyers to argue about.

If the Russian hacking does not constitute an act of war, then Mr Trump cannot be indicted under 18.2381 or 18.2382.

-- Mal