Accused Ft. Hood Gunman Is Still Getting Paycheck From the Government

Major Nidal Hasan, accused of the 2009 mass shooting rampage at Fort Hood that left 13 dead, has retained his military rank and continues to get paychecks from the government, the base commander said Wednesday.

Lieutenant General Donald Campbell, Jr., the commander of Fort Hood, said Hasan’s confinement and medical expenses are also being paid for by the military, KXXV-TV reported. He receives weekly medical treatment and is occasionally transported to meet with his defense team.

Hasan was shot during the attack and is reportedly paralyzed from the waist down.

Campbell said the actions are to ensure Hasan gets a fair trial.

“The bottom line is when you cut through everything we are as an army, we have to be fair to him regardless of what we saw or we think we saw or whatever the case may be,” Campbell said. “It’s imperative we maintain the integrity of the court martial so he gets as fair a shot as possible defending himself with his team.”

Hasan is awaiting a court martial set for March 5, 2012. He is charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder. If convicted, he faces the death penalty.

The trial is set to be held at Fort Hood.

“It’s a delicate balance,” Campbell acknowledged. “We believe [Fort Hood] is a location where we can have a fair court martial. We want it to stay here not for any ulterior reason, but that we have the capacity to have it here.”