Trump’s recent praise of Russia at the G-7 summit and his negative attitude toward America’s allies at the NATO summit clearly provided “aid and comfort” to a hostile nation. Then Trump’s embarrassingly obsequious behavior toward Vladimir Putin in Helsinki caused some to believe that Trump had granted his allegiance to a foreign power. If it is determined that Russia is at war with America, then Trump could be charged with treason.
Article III of the U.S. Constitution states that treason shall consist in levying war [“against the U.S.”] or in adhering to [the enemies of the U.S.] giving them aid and comfort. The operative element of this charge is the existence of war.
The conventional definition of war requires bombs, tanks and artillery. However, we know that in modern times cyber war can be just as violent. Malfunction of the power grid, the banking system and democratic elections would inflict even more destruction than a bombing raid.
The nation needs a definition of war that is consistent with modern hazards.
