2016 Postmortem

It is really difficult to prove treason in the USA. It's defined in the US Constitution, Article III, Section 3:

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.

The reason why the constitution defines treason in such a way is because the founders knew very well how treason could be used politically. Article III, Section 3 was deliberately put there to eliminate that possibility.

That is why there are many of us who are very uncomfortable with the casual use of the word "treason" in political contexts.

Read your US Constitution. Understand its context. That will help.

That's why the NYT deliberately used "potential treason" in their article (no doubt on sage legal advice).