By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgann.bsky.social
Chester County’s Member of Congress, Chrissy Houlahan, and five other Democratic military veterans who hold elective office, put out a video reminding members of the military that they do not need to follow illegal orders and should refer such orders up the chain of command.
The six were vilified, with President Donald Trump Thursday saying Democrats had committed “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL,” claiming such acts were “punishable by DEATH” and that the six “should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL. … An example MUST BE SET.” He later reposted a social media comment calling for the six to be hanged and then later posted himself: “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH.”
Trump continued to make false claims Saturday night, again arguing that the six should be jailed for pointing out that the military has duty to reject illegal orders.
Trump’s insane lashing out appears to be prompting some of his less stable followers to make threats of violence against the six. On Friday, Houlahan’s Gay Street, West Chester office received a bomb threat.
Those are all facts.
But here are a few more: Trump’s orders to attack and destroy small boats in Caribbean appears to have no legal basis beyond “we want to kill some people.” Although claiming the boats were carrying illegal drugs, these small vessels do not have the range to reach American shores. Additionally, there seems to be little evidence these boats were carrying much if any in the way of illegal drugs. Lastly, killing people suspected of committing a crime in international waters is clearly illegal, as has been pointed out in various locations.
Until Trump’s bloodthirsty raids started, the Coast Guard or US Navy conducted interdictions — boarding such vessels and making arrests and seizures when appropriate — not just senseless murders at sea. Worse, administration lawyers who argued the strikes were illegal were not just ignored, but apparently fired.
Putting American troops on the streets of US cities, Portland, Chicago, Los Angeles and most recently, Charlotte is a clear violation of the The Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits the use of the military for law enforcement against US citizens, except in the case of dire emergency. The arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of legal residents — and worse, native-born U.S. citizens — are also wildly illegal (and has rightfully prompted many of the protests we’re seeing). Not to mention the numerous lies ICE and Homeland Security officials have been caught in lies about their conduct, with video showing their version of events was fictional.
The emergency required for military intervention did not and does not exist — the mere fact that those cities and others have seen peaceful protest against the Trump Administration does not constitute an emergency, but rather the Constitutionally protected right to peaceful protest.
These are just a couple of examples of what appear to be illegal orders coming from the Oval Office.
Houlahan and her colleagues were right to remind members of the military of their obligations to their oath and the Uniform Code of Military Justice which specifically says: “An order is unlawful if it violates the Constitution, U.S. laws, or military regulations and it directs a service member to commit a crime or unethical act.”
As a member of Congress, Houlahan has not only a right to point these facts out, she has a responsibility to do so. Trump cannot arbitrarily decide what is or is not legal — his job is to ‘faithfully execute the laws…” Congress makes the law, the courts interpret the law and whether it passes Constitutional muster and the executive administers the law.
Trump’s behavior this week again suggests a man who has no respect for the rule of law and no ethics — not shocking for someone with 34 felony convictions. He is, literally, a criminal trying to run the United States like some sort of mob boss.
Not every member of Congress — including some of the Democratic leadership — seems to have the courage and integrity to stand up to such lawlessness. Houlahan does, and for that, we in Chester County have to be both thankful and proud.
She and her staff do not deserve death threats — they deserve praise and our support.
One hopes that those behind threats to Houlahan and her colleagues face the full extent of the law when found.
