Capitol Police have extended round-the-clock protection to half a dozen Democratic members of Congress in response to a contentious exchange with President Donald Trump. The increased security measures come after these lawmakers disseminated a video addressing the rights of military personnel to refuse certain orders, which the President criticized sharply via his Truth Social platform.
The legislators under heightened security are Sen. Elissa Slotkin (MN), Sen. Mark Kelly (AZ), Rep. Jason Crow (CO), Rep. Maggie Goodlander (NH), Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (PA), and Rep. Chris DeLuzio (PA). In his post last Thursday, President Trump accused the group of "SEDITIONOUS BEHAVIOR," which he stated was "punishable by DEATH." The President escalated the situation with additional posts demanding their arrest by law enforcement.
This online activity spurred an intense public reaction, with President Trump amplifying over a dozen messages from various users, including one that suggested, "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD!!"
As a result of the President's pronouncements, Sen. Slotkin, a former CIA operative, reported receiving numerous threatening communications, which prompted Capitol Police to provide continuous protection to each affected member. She described the immediate impact of these measures, stating, "We've got law enforcement out in front of my house. I mean, it changes things immediately," during an interview with MSNBC.
Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries confirmed that party leadership remained in contact with security officials regarding the ongoing threats directed at the legislators.
Sen. Kelly, drawing on his military background, expressed his disbelief at the President's call for his execution, emphasizing that such rhetoric made everyone less safe and demonstrated a misunderstanding of the Constitution.
The six Democrats, united in their response, issued a statement on Friday reaffirming the importance of their video. They emphasized their lifelong commitment to defending the Constitution and asserted that no threat or call for violence would deter them from this obligation. They further argued that it was revealing of the President to consider their actions, which aimed to inform service members of their rights, as punishable by death.
The group's statement appealed to all Americans to unite against the President's calls for their murder and political violence, calling for moral clarity. They concluded with an assurance of their continued leadership and resilience, invoking the historical phrase "Don't give up the ship."
Their video, which showcased their bipartisan military backgrounds including service in the CIA, Air Force, Army, and Navy, directly addressed active duty personnel, stressing the importance of refusing illegal orders and upholding constitutional obligations.
