A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
President Trump accused six Democratic lawmakers of seditious behavior that is, quote, "punishable by death" in an online post yesterday, all because lawmakers who have military or national security backgrounds recorded this video speaking directly to service members.
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MARK KELLY: Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders.
MARTÍNEZ: The White House later walked back Trump's comments. In a few minutes, we speak with one of the lawmakers in the video, Representative Jason Crow. First, NPR's Quil Lawrence happened to be interviewing dozens of veterans who were on Capitol Hill this week to talk about this same subject.
QUIL LAWRENCE, BYLINE: Forty-one vets from 21 states visited Washington this week to express concern that National Guard and even active-duty troops have been dragged into domestic law enforcement. Jackie Robinson (ph) is a 27-year veteran of the Army.
JACKIE ROBINSON: I want to speak out against the politicalization of the military and to protect the Constitution.
LAWRENCE: Robinson also worked in law enforcement. She says the military has a different mission, and mixing the two is dangerous for troops and civilians.
ROBINSON: And the lines are being blurred when you just put someone into a position that they're not trained for.
ALEX MCCOY: I served under both Republican and Democratic presidents, commanders in chief.
LAWRENCE: Alex McCoy is a former Marine.
MCCOY: So this is not a partisan issue. This is not a political issue. It's just a matter of protecting our military from getting sucked into divisive internal politics and avoiding situations where American citizens are afraid of men and women in uniform.
LAWRENCE: While these vets met with figures from both parties, six Democratic lawmakers put out a video.
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KELLY: You can refuse illegal orders.
ELISSA SLOTKIN: You can refuse illegal orders.
CHRIS DELUZIO: You must refuse illegal orders.
SLOTKIN: No one has to carry out orders that violate the law.
CHRISSY HOULAHAN: Or our Constitution.
LAWRENCE: On social media, President Trump called for the six Democrats to be tried for treason. He reposted a suggestion to hang them. White House adviser Stephen Miller spoke on Fox News.
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STEPHEN MILLER: It's a general call for rebellion from the CIA and the Armed Services of the United States by Democrat lawmakers.
LAWRENCE: The White House later put out a statement that the president does not want to execute members of Congress. The military swear an oath to the Constitution and are trained that following orders is not a defense for illegal acts. At the moment, there is a debate and lawsuits about whether deploying troops domestically or lethal strikes against alleged drug boats break US or international law.
Quil Lawrence, NPR News. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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