Condemn Trump’s Death Threats Against Lawmakers

I am writing to urge you to stand firmly with congressional service members and national security professionals who have reminded our armed forces of their lawful duty to refuse illegal orders, and to speak out clearly against President Trump’s attacks on individuals who uphold that duty. Protect the Duty to Refuse Illegal Orders As you know, both U.S. law and the Uniform Code of Military Justice require service members to obey only lawful orders and prohibit them from carrying out manifestly illegal commands. That is the lesson of Nuremberg and of every modern law of armed conflict. The recent statement by members of Congress simply restates that core legal and ethical duty. Respond to Dangerous Threats Against Elected Officials President Trump has responded by calling these lawmakers “traitors,” demanding their arrest and trial, and posting that their actions are “punishable by DEATH,” while amplifying a call to “hang them.” This is an outright threat against elected officials for restating settled law, and it has already required stepped up security for them and their families. Such rhetoric endangers lives, chills lawful dissent, and invites political violence by extremists who take these words literally. Defend the Constitution and the Military Members of Congress should publicly defend the principle that U.S. troops must refuse illegal orders and affirm that the lawmakers in question accurately described existing law. Congress should also condemn President Trump’s death penalty rhetoric and reject any suggestion that disagreement over the legality of orders is treason. In addition, Congress should support hearings and censure or other formal action making clear that threatening execution against elected officials is unacceptable in a constitutional democracy. Reinforce the Guardrails That Prevent Abuse of Power Congress must focus on preserving long standing civil military norms: that presidents must not weaponize military discipline against domestic critics, and that lawmakers have both the right and the duty to warn service members against potential illegality. Our democracy will not survive if lawful warnings about illegal orders are met with calls for the noose.