Treason

Treason is a legal concept referring to the betrayal of a state authority to which one owes allegiance. It especially refers to such betrayal as through making war on the state, giving aid to the enemies of the state, or attacking the head of state. Persons who defect from one state to another may also be considered guilty of treason. Sedition, the inciting of civil unrest or insurrection, is also frequently considered treasonous. Colloquially, treason is often used for any perceived act of disloyalty or betrayal. A person who commits treason is known as a traitor.

Treason is a crime within the Unified Earth Government and United Nations Space Command. According to JAG 845-P and JAG 7556-L, violation of the Cole Protocol is treason and is punishable by life imprisonment or execution. Violation of the confidentiality of certain ONI transmissions is also considered an act of treason and is punishable by death.

The group Sapien Sunrise considered UEG officials who negotiated with the Sangheili to be traitors.

An analogous concept to treason within the Covenant is that of heresy.

List of known traitors

 * Daniel Clayton -
 * Michael Crespo -
 * Ellen Dowski -
 * Hector Nyeto -
 * Rudolf Schein -
 * Vladimir Scruggs -
 * Robert Watts -