Skylar Woodhouse
(Bloomberg) — President Donald Trump said a group of Democratic lawmakers should be put on trial — and suggested they should even face the death penalty — after they released a video telling intelligence community and military members to disobey orders that would break the law.
“It’s called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL,” Trump said in a social media post. “Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL. Their words cannot be allowed to stand – We won’t have a Country anymore!!! An example MUST BE SET.”
“SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!“ the president added.
The posts were part of a swarm of social media activity for Trump on Thursday morning, which included reposting a user who called for hanging Democrats.
The Democrats who appeared in the video, which was organized by Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, responded in a joint statement calling on Americans to “unite and condemn the President’s calls for our murder and political violence.”
“What’s most telling is that the President considers it punishable by death for us to restate the law,” the lawmakers said. “Our servicemembers should know that we have their backs as they fulfill their oath to the Constitution and obligation to follow only lawful orders.”
Democratic leaders also condemned Trump’s post.
“This is an outright threat and it’s deadly serious,” Chuck Schumer, the top Senate Democrat, said on the chamber’s floor. “He is lighting a match in a country soaked with political gasoline.”
House Democrats issued a statement decrying what they said were “disgusting and dangerous death threats” and calling on Trump to “immediately delete these unhinged social media posts and recant his violent rhetoric before he gets someone killed.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar added that they’d been in touch with the House Sergeant at Arms and the Capitol Police to ensure the safety of the lawmakers and their families.
Trump Struggles
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican, said “I don’t agree” with Trump suggesting the death penalty for lawmakers, but chided the group of Democrats for making what he called “ill-advised, provocative and unnecessary” comments in their video.
Trump’s calls landed as the White House is eager to shift focus away from the president’s recent struggles to address voters’ concerns over affordability and his failed effort to convince lawmakers to block a bill that calls for the release of documents from the investigation into disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump has frequently accused opponents of treason or sedition, previously deeming the Black Lives Matter movement, former President Barack Obama, former FBI Director James Comey, other FBI officials, and the news media as guilty of the crimes.
But the suggestion that lawmakers be sentenced to death drew even more attention to the video, which features six Democrats who previously served in the military or at national security agencies.
‘Enormous Stress’
“We know you are under enormous stress and pressure right now,” the Democrats say in the video. “Americans trust their military. But that trust is at risk. This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens. Like us, you all swore an oath to protect and defend this Constitution. Right now, the threats to our Constitution aren’t just coming from abroad, but from right here at home. Our laws are clear, you can refuse illegal orders.”
Other participants include Senator Mark Kelly as well as Representatives Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio, Chrissy Houlahan and Maggie Goodlander.
Slotkin, a former CIA analyst, also has led Democratic legislative efforts to limit the Trump administration‘s ability to deploy the National Guard into US cities.
Trump has sent US troops, including National Guard members, to Washington, Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland and Memphis and threatened similar interventions in cities including Baltimore, New York, New Orleans and San Francisco.
Stephen Miller, a top adviser to Trump, seized on the video to accuse Democrats of “openly calling for insurrection“ in a social media post earlier this week.
–With assistance from Erik Wasson, Meghashyam Mali and Megan Scully.
(Updates with Thune’s comments in 11th paragraph)
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