Democrat Senator Reveals She Now Has 24/7 Security After ...

By Simon CrerarShareNewsweek is a Trust Project member

Former CIA and State Department intelligence analyst Senator Elissa Slotkin has claimed Capitol Police will guard her 24 hours a day after President Donald Trump accused her of treason.

Speaking to Chris Hayes on MSNOW’s All In on Thursday night, the junior senator from Michigan said that her security situation changed as soon as the president published a series of posts on Truth Social slamming Slotkin and five other Democratic lawmakers after they published a video urging serving military and intelligence personnel to "refuse illegal orders."

Newsweek has reached out to U.S. Capitol Police for comment.

Why It Matters

President Trump had sparked criticism earlier on Thursday after he demanded the arrest of the "seditious" Democratic lawmakers. “This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Country,” Trump posted. “Their words cannot be allowed to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???”

The Democratic members of Congress, who had all served in the military or an intelligence agency, released a video on Tuesday telling those serving in such roles: “You can refuse illegal orders. You must refuse illegal orders.”

The president went on to say said their behavior was "punishable by death."

In response, the lawmakers released a joint statement, saying the president's remarks would not deter them: “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 To Know

Senator Slotkin, a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) analyst, told Chris Hayes that a pile-on came immediately after the president’s posts: “It was instantaneous. I mean hundreds, if not thousands, of calls, emails, texts and online postings.”

She said that Capitol Police told her “We’re gonna put you on 24/7 security.”

Claiming law enforcement were now guarding her home she said “if the president is saying you should be hanged, then we shouldn’t be surprised when folks on the ground are going to follow suit and say even worse.”

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As an analyst Slotkin served three tours in Iraq and worked senior Department of Defence roles during George W. Bush and Barack Obama's presidencies. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2018 and the Senate in 2024.

Trump's comments come at a time of heightened concern about rising political violence in the United States, including attempted assassinations of the president during the election campaign, and the murders of Democratic lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband in Minnesota, and conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.

What People Are Saying

Slotkin spoke to Nexstar Washington Correspondent Raquel Martin about the president’s remarks: "I would just call upon him and everybody to button it up when it comes to threatening violence against people you disagree with."

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar: "Political violence has no place in America. We unequivocally condemn Donald Trump’s disgusting and dangerous death threats against Members of Congress and call on House Republicans to forcefully do the same."

House Speaker Mike Johnson told CNN the Democrat lawmakers' behavior was: "wildly inappropriate."

What's Next

It is unclear whether charges could be brought against the lawmakers. Earlier on Thursday White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded "no" when asked whether the president wanted to execute the members of Congress.

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