Dems’ warning to military stirs debate on duty, ‘illegal orders’

A group of Congressional Democrats this week urged U.S. service members and intelligence professionals to defy “illegal” orders — a message that has raised questions about what the minority party may be trying to accomplish.

Tuesday’s online message came from six Democratic representatives and senators who served in a military branch or in U.S. intelligence. They said the Trump administration is trying to pit these two sectors against American citizens. Rep. Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania, a Navy veteran, says, “You must refuse illegal orders,” with Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, a former CIA analyst, telling military and intelligence professionals, “Know that we have your back.”

The video also features Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Reps. Jason Crow of Colorado, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania. It does not address specific concerns but comes as Trump, a Republican, has built up U.S. military forces in the Caribbean amid growing tensions with Venezuela and as the Pentagon has conducted controversial lethal strikes on alleged drug boats in the region.