Treason - What is it?

Politics
1

I notice the libs accusing Trump of Treason and Trump accusing his accusers of Treason.
We are in the process of misusing the word until it has no meaning-just like we have done with “racism”.

The constitution says that Treason shall consist of waging war against the United States or adhering to it’s enemies, giving them aid and comfort.

The traitor must:
Owe allegiance to the United States by being a citizen or by being a legal resident
AND

  1. Engage in armed conflict against the United States
    OR
  2. Aid it’s enemies. The “Enemies” must be in open war with the United States either through a Declaration of War or an Authorized use of Force.

Russia is not an enemy regardless what it did in the 2016 election.

2

The last people convicted of treason were based on their actions during the declared war on Japan. When anyone (including the POTUS) branding anyone with that term clearly does not know what the proper definition is.

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3

This is precisely why I avoid using the word “treason.” The word has been thrown around flippantly so much in the last decade or 2 that it has completely lost it’s meaning.

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4

I saw CNN saying Trump potentially committed Treason. Trump himself tweeted that he thought Treason had been committed trying to bring him down.
The word is bandied about on both sides.

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5

Racist, nazi, commie, treason…seems we like to overuse words to vilify those we don’t like.

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6

treason

n. the crime of betraying one’s country, defined in Article III, section 3 of the U.S. Constitution: “Treason against the United States shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort.” Treason requires overt acts and includes the giving of government security secrets to other countries, even if friendly, when the information could harm American security. Treason can include revealing to an antagonistic country secrets such as the design of a bomber being built by a private company for the Defense Department. Treason may include “espionage” (spying for a foreign power or doing damage to the operation of the government and its agencies, particularly those involved in security) but is separate and worse than “sedition,” which involves a conspiracy to upset the operation of the government

7

That’s not an accurate definition. The country aided must be an enemy of the US.

Time of war. Treason by aiding the enemy can’t be committed during peacetime; there must be an actual enemy for the traitor to aid. The requisite enemy designation typically requires a formal declaration of war.

8

I think it’s mostly out of ignorance.

9

One definition from a legal dictionary and one from a law firm saying something rather different. I can’t do it now but I’m going to dig a little deeper.

10

Just keep in mind that the constitution specifies aiding “enemies” of the United States.

11

Partially. I think it’s mostly because it’s easy to judge in binaries. Bad and good.

I also think it’s low hanging fruit. Why analyze rather than judge. It’s easier to judge.

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12

Right that’s the difference between spying and treason.

13

People aren’t prosecuted pursuant to the constitution but pursuant to 18 usc 2381. But that’s semantics at best. :smiley:

14

But says nothing about peacetime or wartime………….

15

Like racism.

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16

Nor does that say anything about peacetime or wartime.

17

I disagree. It’s to create feelings of disgust. To justify hatred. To shame.

What’s that syndrome people who watch porn get where they have to watch more and more graphic to get the same satisfaction? Similar.

18

I would add that I have never accused any politician of treason.

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19

Racism is common. Treason, not so much.

20

Interesting point. Is it as common as claimed?

I think “culturism” is far more common than racism.

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