Six Democratic senators who made a video of “illegal orders” are reportedly under round-the-clock protection after President Trump called them “traitors” and says their words could be “punishable by DEATH.”
“The Capitol Police came to us and said, ‘We’re going to put you on 24/7 surveillance,'” Sen. Elissa Slotkin told MS NOW.
The round-the-clock security measure comes after the Democrat joined five of her colleagues in calling on members of the military to disobey — what they called “illegal orders” — from Trump. Six lawmakers, all of whom served in the military or intelligence community, called Trump’s remarks dangerous, saying they amounted to threats against elected officials.
What was the lawmakers video about?
Slotkin, along with other senators — including Mark Kelly of Arizona, Reps. Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, Rep. Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire and Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado — released a minute-long video Tuesday urging service members to reject what they called “illegal orders.”
“Right now the threats to our Constitution are not just coming from abroad, but right here at home. Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders … you have to refuse illegal orders,” the senators said in the video.
Slotkin is a former CIA analyst who also worked at the State Department and the Pentagon during the Obama administration. She is the only one of the six legislators without military experience.
Crow is an Army veteran who earned a Bronze Star for his actions during the Iraq War. Deluzio and Kelly served in the Navy and Houlahan served in the Air Force, while Goodlander spent 11 years as an intelligence officer in the Navy Reserve.
What did Trump say?
After the video was released, Donald Trump accused the six lawmakers of “outrageous behavior” and claimed their action was “punishable by death.”
“This is really wrong and dangerous for our country. Their words cannot stand,” POTUS wrote on Truth Social.
“Each and every one of these traitors to our country should be ARRESTED AND TRIED. Their words cannot be allowed to stand,” he wrote. “An example MUST BE SET.”
“CLOSE THEM???” he asked in one post, before sharing someone else’s post which read: “GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD BE HANGED !!
The White House clarifies
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday dismissed speculation that Trump called for the execution of members of Congress.
“Many in this room want to talk about the president’s reaction, but not what made the president react that way,” she said, accusing lawmakers of encouraging military personnel to defy “lawful orders.”
“They are literally telling 1.3 million active duty members to defy the chain of command and disobey lawful orders,” Leavitt added. “Maybe it’s criminal.”
