Dem Rep believes Trump gave illegal military orders amid video controversy
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., told “CNN News Center” on Wednesday that he believes President Donald Trump issued illegal military orders when asked about a new video from members of his party.
Last week, six Democratic lawmakers appeared in a video urging service members to “reject illegal orders” from Trump, but the video did not specify any direct orders from the president. In response, the War Department said in a statement Monday that Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., who appeared in the video, said: announced that it would launch an official investigation into the matter.
Smith accused the Trump administration of pursuing Kelly for what he called protected political speech, prompting CNN host Boris Sanchez to ask whether he believed Trump was issuing illegal orders as implied in the video.
DEPUTY AG Slams DEMOCRATS’ ‘Disgusting’ Video Urging Soldiers to ‘Reject Illegal Orders’
Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., took issue with the Trump administration’s response to a video in which six Democratic lawmakers called on service members to “reject illegal orders.” (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)
“Yes, it is,” Smith said. “But to the point of the video, why can’t an elected representative express that view? It’s an opinion that’s been expressed many times in many conflicts. Yes, I think it’s illegal to order those boats in the Caribbean to be blown up without any real probable cause, national security justification, or any declaration of war or armed conflict by the U.S. Congress. It’s a legitimate opinion to hold, and it’s a legitimate opinion to express.”
“If you exercise your First Amendment rights, especially six people who are elected representatives of the people, they shouldn’t have to face the threat of legal action. They actually have to stand up for what they believe in to do their jobs as elected representatives.”
RUBEN GALLEGO WARNED SOLDIERS WILL GO AFTER CONGRESS MEMBERS WHEN TRUMP IS GONE ‘THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES’
Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., is under review by the War Department for his role in the video. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)
Smith also called the War Department’s actions against Kelly “a threat to everyone” and compared them to the actions of a “totalitarian government.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to Smith’s office and the War Department for comment.
ERIC SWALWELL SAYS THE MILITARY COULD HAVE A ‘CONTROL’ ON DONALD TRUMP TO ‘SAVE US’
While Smith said she believed Trump issued illegal orders, Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., who appeared with Kelly in the video, told ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday that she was “not aware” of any illegal military orders by the president.
Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin previously said on ABC’s “This Week” that she was not aware of any illegal military orders by President Donald Trump. (Paul Sancya/Pool/Getty Images)
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
Slotkin responded, “I’m not aware of anything that’s illegal as far as I know, but there’s definitely some legal gymnastics going on with the Caribbean attacks and everything to do with Venezuela.”
