Major Nidal Hasan’s (Fort Hood Shooter) Defense will Ultimately Cost Taxpayer’s $35M

The costs of Hasan’s initial trial at FT Hood cost nearly $5 Million. His case has been active on appellate review since 2013, and estimates are when his appeals are exhausted (probably another 10 years), the DOD will have spent nearly $35 Million on providing him a free defense.

Hassan wanted to plead guilty to murder, but Army prosecutors (rightfully) sought the death penalty. Our judicial system won’t let a defendant plead guilty to a capital case and accept a death sentence without being found guilty at a contested jury trial (which also requires a unanimous verdict, different from regular courts-martial).

Being charged with a capital offense also means the defendant is entitled to specialized lawyers who have experience with the death penalty and mitigation. They charge tens of thousands of dollars for their work.

Perhaps we should have let him plead guilty to murder, given him life without parole, and kept him in reserve in prison unless/until we ever need to trade him to a Muslim country in exchange for an American journalist, hostage, etc.

That’s what Israel does with their high-value Arab prisoners.