Traitor's initial justification for his crime (7)

I believe the answer is:

treason

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'his crime' is the definition.
'treason' can be an answer for 'crime' (treason is a kind of crime). I'm not sure about the 'his' bit.

'traitor's initial justification' is the wordplay.
'initial' suggests taking the first letters.
'justification' becomes 'reason' (I've seen this in another clue).
The first letter of 'traitors' is 't'.
't'+'reason'='TREASON'

'for' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for treason that I've seen before include "Deliberate act of betrayal" , "Lese-majesty" , "One rats (anag)" , "attempting to overthrow the king" , "subversion" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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