Two Democratic lawmakers have requested senior defense leaders to clarify the rules regarding the deployment of military personnel within the U.S. This comes in response to growing political discussions about altering restrictions to allow military intervention in immigration or protest-related situations.
In a letter addressed to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. C.Q. Brown, Representatives Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) urged for a clear and public explanation of the limitations on domestic military deployment.
“There is no greater responsibility than the oath of office we swear to the Constitution, not to a president or political party,” said Sherrill. “Donald Trump betrayed that oath time and again, particularly on January 6 when he jeopardized the peaceful transfer of power. As we prepare for another presidential election, we are calling on our military leaders to reject improper political influence and to take necessary steps to preserve the bedrock foundation of our democracy.”
“In 2020, when the former President and others disrupted the peaceful transfer of power, principled military leaders made it clear they would not help that effort and took an important stand for democracy,” said Slotkin. “Now, prominent leaders are once again declaring that if given a chance, they will use the military for their own political ends, threatening centuries of commitment to keeping our troops out of politics. So it is important once again that senior military leaders be clear and confirm those long-held principles for the good of the nation and of the military.”
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Pointing out that our senior-most military officials may be required to serve as guardrails against using the military in domestic affairs, Sherrill and Slotkin write, “We are relying on you to preserve the system that our Founding Fathers designed.”
In their letter, Representatives Sherrill and Slotkin urge Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General C.Q. Brown, and other top military leaders to:
- Confirm the principle that there is only one president at a time.
- Recognize that federal law forbids members of the U.S. armed forces from engaging directly in search, seizure, arrest, and other law enforcement activities.
- Acknowledge that it is against federal law for military personnel to assist civilian law enforcement in a way that negatively impacts military readiness.
- State clearly that deploying U.S. forces under the 1807 Insurrection Act without meeting its specific conditions is illegal.
- Affirm that the exercise of free speech and peaceful protest by civilians does not meet the definition of insurrection as specified in the act.
- Declare that U.S. forces must always adhere to both U.S. and international law, including those laws that protect civilian rights.
- Confirm that all military members are bound by military discipline and are subject to prosecution if they execute unlawful orders, regardless of whether the president who issues such orders is immune from prosecution.
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