NEW YORK (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 government employees to refrain from following orders that broke 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 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, then abandoned, 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 is likely to center focus on the video, which features six Democrats who previously served in the military or national security roles.
The video was organized by Senator Elissa Slotkin, the former CIA analyst from Michigan.
“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. Several of the lawmakers did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s social media posts.
Slotkin also has led Democratic legislative efforts to limit the Trump Administration‘s ability to deploy the National Guard into US cities. Trump has moved to deploy National Guard members in 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.
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