"Is it legal for the federal government to kill a U.S. citizen overseas, someone who has never been charged or convicted of a crime? Civil liberties groups are condemning the killing of Anwar al-Awlaki, but many legal scholars say it is fully justified."Anwar al-Awlaki was, according to U.S officials, "a senior talent recruiter and motivator who was involved with planning operations for the Islamist militant group al-Qaeda." He also happened to be a US citizen. Today (Sept. 30) he was killed in northern Yemen.
This has brought up a debate. Since he was a US citizen and he was not allowed a trial before he was killed, is his 6th amendment violated? Or, since he was not on US soil at the time and he was said to be working with al-Qaeda, is he not entitled to his 6th amendment right?
"In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence."There is not mention that the person in question has to be in the US, or even a US citizen. The only thing that could be applicable in this case is the "impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed."
Source:
Can the U.S. kill and American citizen without charge or conviction?
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