It’s not like the US says you HAVE to execute someone convicted of treason, right? Even in death penalty states people get the lesser sentence of life with no chance for parole.

I can see why this is maybe the one crime some people ambivalent about the death penalty would want to keep it as an option for: to make sure the traitors supports don’t yank them out of prison and try again.

But if Russia or whomever breaks into a supermax prison to get some spy or politician out, I think the country has worse problems than a traitor on the lose.