By Hugh CameronShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberFive out of the six Democratic lawmakers who called on the military to “refuse illegal orders” from the administration have received bomb threats after President Donald Trump accused them of “seditious behavior” he considered “punishable by death.”
On Friday, the offices of Senator Elissa Slotkin, as well as Representatives Jason Crow, Chrissy Houlahan and Chris Deluzio said that their offices had received bomb threats. Meanwhile, police in Concord, New Hampshire, responded to a bomb threat at the local office of Representative Maggie Goodlander on Friday afternoon.
Newsweek called the members of Congress on Saturday morning for comment. Newsweek also contacted the White House via email for comment on the bomb threats.
Why It Matters
The escalation of threats against sitting members of Congress comes amid heightened bipartisan concerns over the rising tide of politically motivated violence in the U.S.
The White House and the president himself have downplayed his remarks as charged rhetoric, and denied that these constituted direct threats against the lawmakers. But his comments have sparked condemnation from the Democratic party.
What To Know
Last week, a group of six Democrats—each former members of the military or U.S. intelligence community—posted a 90-second video in which they called on serving members to “refuse illegal orders” from the administration.
"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."
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The lawmakers did not specify the “illegal orders” to which they were referring, but the video led to tirade of threats from President Trump on Truth Social.
“SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH," Trump posted.
"Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL. Their words cannot be allowed to stand," he wrote in a separate post. "An example MUST BE SET."
The president also shared a post from another user which read: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"
No injuries have been reported as a result of the bomb threats made against the five lawmakers on Friday.
According to Senator Slotkin’s office, Michigan State Police responded to the threat at her home while she was away, conducted a search and “confirmed no one was in danger.”
Representative Houlahan said her district office in West Chester, Pennsylvania was the “target of a bomb threat,” but that “the staff there as well as the office in Washington, D.C. are safe.”
A spokesperson for Houlahan told Politico on Friday that her office had filed a complaint against Trump, treating his post the same as “all threats targeting Representative Houlahan,” and noted that two of the district offices had received bomb threats.
The pre-recorded voicemail greeting for Houlahan’s D.C. office informs callers that there has been a rise in profanity-laden “abusive calls” and threats against the representative, and says that these will be reported to law enforcement.
...Colorado Representative Crow’s district office in Aurora was similarly subject to a bomb threat on Friday, according to a statement posted to his official X account.
“The Congressman and his staff are safe,” the post read. “Congressman Crow is grateful for the quick response from law enforcement and their work to keep our community safe.”
Representative Deluzio shared on X that two threats were made against his offices—in Carnegie and Beaver County, Pennsylvania—and wrote: “The Congressman and congressional staff are safe, and thank law enforcement for swiftly responding.”
New Hampshire State Police responded to a threat in Concord, New Hampshire, on Friday afternoon, where one of Representative Goodlander’s offices is located, based on reports that “several hazardous items wired together” were observed nearby.
“Officers responded to the area and confirmed the presence of hazardous items,” the Concord police department said in a press release. “New Hampshire State Police Bomb Squad responded and dispelled the concern and ensured all items were rendered safe.”
What People Are Saying
Representative Chris Deluzio, one of the Democrats featured in the video, posted to X: “Today, Donald Trump called for my death and arrest. He didn’t want to hear a basic lesson: the oath to the Constitution comes above all. I will not be intimidated, and I will uphold my oath.”
In a joint statement released Thursday, the six lawmakers wrote: “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.”
President Trump posted to Truth Social: “It’s called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL.”
Trump told Fox News on Friday: “Modern day is a lot softer, but in the old days, if you said a thing like that, that was punishable by death.”
“I’m not threatening them, but I think they’re in serious trouble,” he added.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, in a floor speech: "Let's be crystal clear. The president of the United States is calling for the execution of elected officials."
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the president’s remark in a press briefing: “You have sitting members of the United States Congress who conspired together to orchestrate and video [a] message to members of the United States military, to active duty service members, to members of the national security apparatus, encouraging them to defy the president’s lawful orders.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters: “The words the president chose are not the ones that I would use, ok. Obviously, I don’t think that these are crimes punishable by death or any of that.”
What Happens Next
The administration has suggested that an investigation could be launched into the Democrats who featured in Tuesday’s video.
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