Bill would restrict recording and public sharing of military executions

Federal officials and people acting under Defense Department authority would face limits on recording or publicly sharing military executions. The restrictions would cover knowingly recording or sharing executions of people sentenced to death under military law. The Defense Secretary could authorize recordings solely for official use, such as investigations, court cases, and historical archives. Those official recordings could be released publicly only under a court order or an act of Congress. The sharing restrictions would cover recordings made without Defense Department approval. The restrictions would apply to executions carried out on or after enactment, regardless of when the death sentence was imposed or approved.

Federal money generally could not pay to record or publicly share federal executions. The funding restriction would cover executions under military law and all other federal laws. Spending would be allowed under a court order or express authorization in a law enacted after this bill becomes law. The funding restriction would apply to executions carried out on or after enactment, regardless of when the death sentence was imposed or approved.