No force in the history of human civilization has had more money, resources, and
capacity for destruction at its disposal than the United States military.

As the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility.

Though there are far too many examples of it failing to do so, our military — to
be both effective and legitimate — is supposed to conform to established laws of war and rules of engagement. Otherwise, it
would be nothing more than the most expensive and terrifying gang of ruthless
thugs the world has ever seen.

That’s why members of our armed forces have not only the right, but the
obligation, to disobey orders that violate the law or the United States
Constitution (which they have sworn to defend from both foreign and domestic
enemies).

Last week, these six members of Congress — each of whom served in the military
or in intelligence — put out a video reminding current service members that they
can and must disobey illegal orders:

Rep. Jason Crow (Colorado, Army)

Rep. Chris Deluzio (Pennsylvania, Navy)

Rep. Maggie Goodlander (New Hampshire, Navy)

Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (Pennsylvania, Air Force)

Sen. Mark Kelly (Arizona, Navy)

Sen. Elissa Slotkin (Michigan, C.I.A.)

In reaction, Donald Trump is amplifying death threats against these members of
Congress, siccing compliant forces within his regime, including the FBI, on
them, and even suggesting that at least one of them (Sen. Kelly) could be
recalled into active military duty just to be court-martialed.

Again, the supposed “crime” these members of Congress are guilty of, in Trump’s
eyes, is telling the plain truth that those who serve in America’s armed forces
have both the right and the responsibility to disobey illegal orders.

To support our troops includes supporting their right and duty *not* to follow
illegal orders. No matter what our politics are or who the president is. And
especially when Trump — along with his sycophantic and misogynistic Defense
Secretary, Pete Hegseth — have made it very clear that they have little regard
for what is or isn’t legal. (And when the Supreme Court has, absurdly, ruled
that the president is in effect above the law.)

Join Public Citizen in a message to all members of Congress:
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Representatives Crow, Deluzio, Goodlander, and Houlahan and Senators Kelly and
Slotkin are right. And it should not be the least bit controversial for every
member of Congress, and, indeed, for all Americans to agree. Members of the
United States military can and must disobey orders that violate the law or the
United States Constitution. For that matter, no government employee or official
should follow illegal orders given by any other government employee or official.
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Thanks for taking action.

For justice,

- Robert Weissman & Lisa Gilbert, Co-Presidents of Public Citizen


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