Deputy Attorney General Reacts to Democratic Lawmakers’ Video

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche expressed his strong disapproval after a group of Democratic lawmakers—many with military and intelligence backgrounds—released a video encouraging military personnel to “reject illegal orders.”

On “Hannity” Wednesday night, Blanche described the video as “an abhorrent act.” He remarked that it felt reminiscent of propaganda used by adversaries to recruit spies.

He said, “When you think about what these individuals are implying about this administration, about the president… what could their motivation possibly be, if not to provoke military members?” He also posed a question about whether the intellectual community might defy orders from their superiors.

Democratic Senators Warn of Threats

In a video titled “Don’t Abandon Ship,” six Democratic senators reflected on their military service, urging members of the military and intelligence community to recognize that “threats to our Constitution come right here at home.”

The lawmakers featured in the video included Senators Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), as well as Representatives Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.), Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H.), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), and Jason Crow (D).

In the video, some reiterated the sentiment, “Unlawful orders can be refused; illegal orders must be refused.”

Slotkin and others have been advocating for legislation to limit President Trump’s ability to deploy the National Guard domestically or undertake military action against narco-terrorists without Congressional approval. However, this legislative context was not mentioned in the video.

Blanche Calls for Accountability

Blanche maintained that the administration’s actions were not illegal and suggested that the Democrats involved should be “held accountable.” He emphasized the necessity for these lawmakers to clarify their actions, insisting that the American people deserve answers.

Several conservative voices have condemned the video’s content, including TikTok’s Liv, Rep. Eric Schmidt (R-Mo.), Secretary of the Army Pete Hegseth, and former Navy SEAL Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.).

Klain characterized the video as “extremely stupid and despicable” during an appearance on “The Ingraham Angle,” criticizing Democrats for failing to offer specific examples of illegal orders from the Trump administration.

Houlahan responded by stating that “some in the administration and the media are actively working to distort that message into something dark and divisive.” She emphasized that reminding military personnel of their constitutional duties is both patriotic and crucial.

Crow echoed similar sentiments, remarking that the president is putting service members in challenging positions and highlighted that they have the right to refuse unlawful orders. He referred to a past instance where Trump allegedly questioned whether a protester could be shot in the leg, pointing out this as an example of the surrounding issues.

No immediate comment was received from Slotkin’s office regarding requests for clarification about that specific incident.