CBS’s Brennan Grills DHS Boss Markwayne Mullin on Livestreaming Execution: Don’t You Risk ‘Making Him a Martyr?’

President Donald Trump’s decision to approve a livestream for the execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan came under scrutiny on CBS’s Face the Nation.

In a Sunday morning interview, CBS’s Margaret Brennan pressed DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin about the plans to broadcast Hasan’s death by firing squad.

“Secretary Hegseth said that he plans to live stream the upcoming execution by firing squad of convicted murderer Nidal Hasan, who killed 13 service members in 2009,” Brennan said. “Hasan’s in a wheelchair. Doesn’t the administration risk live streaming this and making him a martyr to his cause? Couldn’t this be a risk to the homeland?”

Mullin defended the decision.

“No one has to watch it,” Mullin replied. “But for me to have sympathy for anybody that killed 13 service members, ad a scumbag like this that’s a psycho who was supposed to be a psychiatrist, I have no feelings towards him. At all.

“I’m not asking you about him,” Brennan responded. “I’m asking about the live streaming and the risk that could be created by it.”

“Listen, once again, no one has to watch it if they don’t choose to,” Mullin said.

“Why livestream it?” Brennan asked again.

“I follow President Trump,” Mullin said. “He’s a commander in chief of the country and he does a phenomenal job. He leads this country with a very, very, direct, forward, straight hand and he’s restoring America’s values and bringing where America should be back in line with what we want.”

Brennan noted Republican opposition to the livestream from Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND)

“Your Republican colleagues Lisa Murkowski and Kevin Cramer have both said that this provides exactly what terrorists crave an audience,” Brennan said. “It risks martyrdom. Have you weighed the risk here of radicalization?”

“Margaret, we weigh the risk every single day in this country,” Mullin said. “Department of Homeland Security, that’s what we do, is we protect the homeland. But I don’t see an elevated risk at this point at all because of this. I think people need to understand, if you attack America, we will come after you and we will make sure that the punishment fits the crime. And in this case, he killed 13 individuals on Fort Hood. I have no sympathy for him, and I give absolutely zero thought to the way that this man dies.”

Watch above, via CBS.

The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
The single summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting from both sides of the aisle. Subscribe now!