Sedition or Treason or Insurrection or Coup
Do you know the difference?
Photo Credit: Dictionary.com
Issue #333: Government June 1, 2023
The far-right House Freedom Caucus, which includes people like Marjorie Taylor Greene and Matt Gaetz, continues to attempt to accuse high-level Democrats, including President Joe Biden and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, of "treason." Greene desperately wants to impeach and remove Biden and Mayorkas, and she additionally wants to "defund" the earned retirements of people like Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Those people are the clearest examples of why we need Civics and true American History classes. Greene, Gaetz, etc., obviously do not understand how the Constitution works, especially for sedition and treason.
As they call for "punishments" of people they don't like, they support and applaud people who have actually committed and, in some cases, people who have been convicted of actual serious crimes against the people of the United States. People like the January 6 insurrectionists who attempted a coup against the government of the United States.
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The Constitution of the United States defines both sedition and treason as crimes against the state, but they differ in their scope and severity. Sedition refers to the act of inciting rebellion or insurrection against the government, while treason is the betrayal of one's country by levying war against it or giving aid and comfort to its enemies.
Sedition is a less severe offense than treason, but it can still carry serious consequences. The burden of proof for sedition is lower than for treason, as prosecutors only need to demonstrate that the defendant intended to incite violence or insurrection against the government. This intent can be demonstrated through speech, writing, or other communication that advocates for the overthrow of the government or the use of violence to achieve political goals.
One notable case of sedition in recent history is that of the "Hutaree militia" in 2010. Members of the group were charged with seditious conspiracy for plotting to kill law enforcement officers and incite a violent uprising against the government. The group's leaders were found guilty of the charges, but the lower-level members were acquitted due to a lack of evidence.
Treason, on the other hand, is a more severe offense that carries the penalty of death. The burden of proof for treason is higher than for sedition, as prosecutors must demonstrate that the defendant committed a specific act of betrayal against the country. This can include joining an enemy army, providing classified information to a foreign government, or attempting to overthrow the government through force.
One of the most famous cases of treason in American history is that of Benedict Arnold, who famously betrayed the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War by plotting to hand over the strategic fort at West Point to the British. Arnold was able to escape to British lines before he could be captured, but his name has since become synonymous with traitors.
In more recent history, the case of John Walker Lindh, an American who fought for the Taliban in Afghanistan after 9/11, serves as an example of treason. Lindh was captured by American forces and charged with providing material support to a terrorist organization and conspiracy to murder U.S. nationals. He ultimately pleaded guilty to lesser charges and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Regardless of the differences, both crimes are serious and carry severe consequences for those found guilty.
Since January 2023, four members of the Proud Boys and four members of the Oath Keepers have been convicted of seditious conspiracy.
Let us know your thoughts about what new information you learned about the difference between sedition and treason in the Substack Notes feature.
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