The Hill reports:

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin stood behind the Trump administration’s decision to livestream the military execution of convicted Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan, despite growing bipartisan criticism over the plan.

In an interview with CBS News’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday, Mullin dismissed concerns coming from across party lines that publicizing Hasan’s death by firing squad could inspire extremists or turn the convicted mass murderer into a martyr.

“First of all, no one has to watch it,” Mullin said when asked whether livestreaming the execution in Texas could pose a threat to national security.

Pressed on why Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth would move to broadcast the execution, Mullin pointed to President Trump’s leadership.

“I follow President Trump. He’s a commander in chief of the country, and he does a phenomenal job,” Mullin said. “He leads this country with a very, very, very direct, forward, straight hand, and he’s restoring American values.”

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) urged the Pentagon chief Friday to reverse the decision, warning that livestreaming the execution could bolster his notoriety and fulfill his wish for martyrdom.

“There is no need to livestream any execution, including this one,” Murkowski wrote on social media Friday. “I would expect this from terrorists and dictators, but not here in America.” [Continue reading…]