Nearly 20 Republican lawmakers who formerly served in the military have introduced a resolution condemning their Democratic colleagues for making a video reminding troops they could disobey illegal orders. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
WASHINGTON — Nearly 20 Republican lawmakers who formerly served in the military have introduced a resolution condemning their Democratic colleagues for making a video reminding troops they could disobey illegal orders.
The video infuriated President Donald Trump, who described it as “seditious behavior.” Rep. Rick Crawford, of Arkansas, a former Army sergeant; and Rep. Ryan Zinke, of Montana, a former Navy SEAL commander; along with 16 other veterans echoed that charge in their resolution.
The measure denounces “the dangerous and seditious rhetoric spewing” from the six involved Democrats and condemns them for “attempting to sow disallegiance amongst members of the United States military and intelligence community” and encouraging them to act against the president and violate the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
The video, the resolution argues, has led to an environment putting troops at risk and undermined national security and the “peaceful coexistence and respect deserved by our brave men and women serving in the military and the intelligence community.”
Sens. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., and Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., as well as Reps. Jason Crow, D-Colo., Chris DeLuzio; D-Pa, Maggie Goodlander, D-N.H.; and Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., appeared in the video, telling service members that “no one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution.”
Zinke said the lawmakers promoted disobedience for political purposes “at the peril of our service members” and did not point to evidence of illegal orders being issued.
“The U.S. military code is clear on this, and as veterans themselves, they all should have known better,” he said on X on Thursday.
The video prompted the FBI last month to open an inquiry into the six Democrats, who said the agency contacted the House and Senate sergeant at arms to arrange interviews with them. It also led the Pentagon to initiate an investigation into Kelly, a former Navy captain, that could lead to a court-martial.
Kelly, in a news conference on Monday, defended his participation in the video, saying he and the other lawmakers wanted to give service members a reminder of their rights and show that “we had their back and we understood the situation they were in.”
“Every service member doesn’t hear these reminders as frequently as other service members, so we felt it was important to say under the circumstances,” he said.
Democrats in recent months have raised concerns about the legality of the Trump administration’s deployment of National Guard troops to U.S. cities as well as a bombing campaign targeting alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.
