WASHINGTON — A group of Democratic lawmakers launched an effort to inform U.S. service members and those who work in the intelligence community of what they say is their right to refuse to carry out illegal orders, warning that Americans’ trust in the military is currently “at risk” and calling on them to "stand up" for our Constitution.
The new push came in the form of a video posted on social media in which six Democrats, who all previously served in the military or intelligence roles, took turns introducing themselves and their past positions before individually switching off dictating lines from a statement.
“We want to speak directly to members of the military and the intelligence community,” the message begins, with Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, who served in the U.S. Navy, and Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, a former CIA officer, each reading a part.
“This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens,” the lawmakers continue in the video.
The Democrats go on to assert that threats to our Constitution are coming from within the U.S. rather than just abroad before declaring that “no one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution.”
Along with Kelly and Slotkin, the other Democratic lawmakers who took part include Reps. Jason Crow of Colorado and Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire as well as Reps. Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan, both of Pennsylvania.
The Democrats did not directly reference any instances in which they believe illegal orders could be at play, but it comes as a number of lawmakers have questioned the legality of the Trump administration's strikes on vessels in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific that it says are smuggling drugs.
Read the rest at Spectrum News.
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