By Richard L. Gaw
Staff Writer

U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania joined with five other elected officials on Nov. 20 in recording a video that called on U.S. military personnel and intelligence officials to refuse to follow any orders that break the law or violate the U.S. Constitution.

In a 90-second video, Houlahan, Arizona U.S. Sens. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan joined U.S. Representatives Jason Crow of Colorado, Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania and Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire – is delivering the following message:

“We want to speak directly to the members of the military and the intelligence community who take risks each day to keep America safe. We know you are under enormous stress and pressure right now. Americans trust their military, but that trust is at risk. This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens. Like us, you all swore an oath to protect and defend this Constitution. Right now, the threats to our Constitution aren’t just coming from abroad but from right here at home. 

“Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders. You must refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution. We know this is hard, and it is a very difficult time to be a public servant – whether you are serving in the CIA, the Army, the Navy or the Air Force – your vigilance is critical. Know that we have your back. Because now, more than ever, the American people need you to stand up for our laws and our Constitution.

Don’t give up. Don’t give up. Don’t give up the ship.”

‘Punishable by DEATH’

On his Truth Social Post, President Donald Trump immediately condemned the six Democratic lawmakers for their message, first posting, “This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Country. Their words cannot be allowed to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP??? President DJT” and in a second post, he again condemned the video, equating it to “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH” and called for the lawmakers to “be arrested and put on trial.”

One day later, Trump rescinded his comments.

“I think they’re in serious trouble,” Trump said in an interview, referring to the six lawmakers. “I would say they’re in serious trouble. I’m not threatening death, but I think they’re in serious trouble. In the old days, it was death. That was seditious behavior.”

In the aftermath of criticism, Houlahan, Kelly, Slotkin, Deluzio, Crow and Goodlander released the following joint statement: 

“We are veterans and national security professionals who love this country and swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. That oath lasts a lifetime, and we intend to keep it. No threat, intimidation, or call for violence will deter us from that sacred obligation.
“What’s most telling is that the President considers it punishable by death for us to restate the law. Our servicemembers should know that we have their backs as they fulfill their oath to the Constitution and obligation to follow only lawful orders. It is not only the right thing to do, but also our duty.
 “But this isn’t about any one of us. This isn’t about politics. This is about who we are as Americans. Every American must unite and condemn the President’s calls for our murder and political violence. This is a time for moral clarity. In these moments, fear is contagious, but so is courage. We will continue to lead and will not be intimidated.”

The daughter and granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, Houlahan grew up in a military family that saw her father and grandfather fly P3 aircraft in the same Navy squadron. She earned her engineering degree from Stanford with an ROTC scholarship that launched her service in the U.S. Air Force and Air Force Reserves and later earned her M.S. in Technology and Policy from MIT. 

In the days since the video was released, speculation on whether military personnel can in fact refuse orders has come under great scrutiny. As contained in the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), each member of the military takes an oath of enlistment, stating that they “will obey the orders of the President of the United States.” Further, Article 134 of the code prohibits “all disorders and neglects to the prejudice of good order and discipline in the armed forces, all conduct of a nature to bring discredit upon the armed forces, and crimes and offenses” such as burglary, murder, assault, rape and property destruction.

However, while the UCMJ stipulates that military personnel must obey lawful orders, if an order is deemed “manifestly illegal” and violates the U.S. Constitution, U.S. law or exceeds the issuing authority, they have a legal and ethical obligation to disobey those orders.

While the video did not make specific references to illegal orders being made by the President, it was circulated at a moment when U.S. military personnel and several U.S. allies are questioning whether recent strikes against suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean are legal, and whether it is legal to send troops to U.S. cities, who have been deployed to Washington, D.C., Portland, Ore., Los Angeles and Chicago.

‘Sycophants and enablers’

In the days since the video was released, Houlahan has received a strongly mixed reaction of comments on her Facebook page that has shown little signs of slowing down.

“You provided no documentation proving wrongdoing,” one comment read. “You are simply one of those who will continue to do whatever is necessary to ensure the failure of this administration. It’s all about you and your party, not your constituents. You are backpedaling because of backlash. We are not buying it for a minute.”

On Nov. 24, the page posted an audio recording of supporters from several states - including the Sixth District of Pennsylvania - who had made phone calls to her office, complimenting Houlahan for her participation in the video.

“I will continue to speak up for you, because you continue to speak up for me,” one caller said. 

While she is receiving encouragement from several of her constituents, Houlahan said that she has not received the same support from her colleagues in Congress. 

“People were up in arms understandably and appropriately about the assassination of Charlie Kirk, but it has been crickets here in Congress about this,” she said to reporter Anna Cabrera of MSNow on Nov. 22. When asked if she had heard from anyone in Congress, Houlahan replied, “Not one. Not one.”

In a Nov. 20 message posted on his social media page, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro defended Houlahan and DeLuzio — members of his state’s congressional delegation – and condemned Trump for calling for violence against the lawmakers.

“Not only has the President failed in his responsibility to lead this country — he is actively encouraging political violence once again, ratcheting up the real risk of danger to our elected leaders and deepening the divides in our country,” Shapiro wrote. “The sycophants and enablers the President surrounds himself with are quick to condemn language like this when it suits their political purposes — but in moments like this, they remain silent.”

“I strongly reject this dangerous rhetoric,” wrote Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman about President Trump’s response to the video. “Do not threaten Members of Congress. Republican or Democrat. It’s deeply wrong with no exceptions—ever.”

To date, Pennsylvania Dave McCormick, a West Point graduate, has not made any public statements regarding the content of the video.

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email [email protected].