- Trump calls for arrest of Democrats urging troops to uphold Constitution.
- Labels six lawmakers “traitors” and accuses them of sedition.
- Democrats urged troops to refuse illegal orders in viral video.
On Thursday, President Donald Trump attacked a group of House Democrats who urged American service members to uphold their oaths to the Constitution.
He demanded that the lawmakers be detained and put on trial for recording and sharing a social media video in which they urged members of the U.S. armed forces to obey the law by disobeying vague, illegal orders.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump called senators Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Mark Kelly of Arizona, as well as Colorado Representative Jason Crow, New Hampshire Representative Maggie Goodlander, and Pennsylvania Representatives Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan, accusing them of "seditious behavior at the highest level."
“Their words cannot be allowed to stand - We won’t have a Country anymore!!!”
he added.
In a second post written after he’d deleted the previous one, Trump called the Democrats’ statements
“really bad, and dangerous to our Country.”
He then added:
“Their words cannot be allowed to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???”
What specific laws define seditious behavior under US code?
This law states that if two or further persons conspire to erect, put down, or destroy the U.S. government by force, or to oppose by force its authority, or to help or hamper the prosecution of U.S. laws, they shall be fined or locked for over to 20 times, or both.
Whoever incites or engages in any rebellion or revolution against U.S. authority, or gives aid or comfort to those involved, can be fined or locked for over to 10 times. Someone who levies war against the U.S. or gives aid and comfort to adversaries can face the death penalty or imprisonment.
These bills bear evidence of intent and overt acts toward forcefully opposing the government or its laws. Mere speech or opinion without action doesn't constitute sedition.