Major Nidal Malik Hasan has been paid more than $275,000 while in prison awaiting trial for the 2009 Fort Hood shooting, NBC Dallas-Fort Worth reports.
Hasan allegedly yelled "Allahu Akbar!" and opened fire on Nov. 5, 2009, killing 13 people, including a pregnant soldier, and wounded more than 30. His pay cannot be stripped unless he is proven guilty of the shooting, according to NBC DFW:
The Department of Defense confirms to NBC 5 Investigates that accused Fort Hood shooter Major Nidal Hasan has now been paid more than $278,000 since the Nov. 5, 2009 shooting that left 13 dead 32 injured. The Army said under the Military Code of Justice, Hasan’s salary cannot be suspended unless he is proven guilty.
If Hasan had been a civilian defense department employee, NBC 5 Investigates has learned, the Army could have suspended his pay after just seven days.
Personnel rules for most civilian government workers allow for "indefinite suspensions" in cases "when the agency has reasonable cause to believe that the employee has committed a crime for which a sentence of imprisonment may be imposed."
Victims have faced certain difficulties in the wake of shooting because the Army has not formally classified the shooting as "combat related," instead calling it "workplace violence." That designation has prevented victims from receiving Purple Hearts, and the loss of access to medical benefits given to those who suffer "combat related" injuries.
Hasan's trial is expected to begin May 29.