Democratic veterans in Congress faced criticism from Republicans after they released a video indicating that service members could refuse illegal orders. This included commentary from an Air Force veteran highlighting that former President Biden’s Pentagon dismissed 8,700 service members for not complying with vaccination mandates.
In the video, Senators Mark Kelly of Arizona and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, alongside Representatives Chrissy Hoolahan and Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania, Jason Crow of Colorado, and Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, told service members they had the right to reject orders they felt were illegal, particularly those from Trump.
Jennifer Ruth Green, a Republican and Air Force veteran who previously ran for office in Indiana, called out her fellow veterans for what she deemed hypocrisy. She pointed out that many service members had lost their jobs for refusing vaccination mandates imposed by the Biden administration, which Democrats seemed to support.
“Thousands of service members who turned down Joe Biden’s ‘unlawful orders’ were fired without benefits, and Democrats were totally condoning it,” Green stated on social media.
She specifically criticized Kelly for suggesting that military personnel should refuse presidential orders if they deemed them illegal. “Please stop playing politics with military personnel. Just because you don’t approve of the politicians doesn’t mean the orders are illegal,” she remarked.
During a discussion, Scarborough mentioned that following illegal orders would violate soldiers’ oaths. Kelly responded by emphasizing the importance of consulting with commanders or the Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) office regarding the legality of orders.
The Pentagon had previously confirmed that around 8,700 service members were discharged under orders from then-Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. Recently, a Pentagon spokesperson mentioned that these individuals might be invited back to duty.
Green, who ran a closely contested Republican race in her district two decades ago, criticized Democrats for suggesting service members shouldn’t obey orders. “They have no problem forcing those same service members to get vaccinated,” she noted, reflecting frustration over the situation.
Florida Republican Representative Byron Donald also condemned the Democrats’ actions, claiming they had behaved irresponsibly. “The inflammatory acts committed by them released a video that no one asked for,” he remarked, pointing out that not all members of Congress have authority akin to the Commander in Chief.
Deluzio vowed to continue serving despite the tensions, stating he would not be intimidated. Meanwhile, Trump advisor Stephen Miller countered the comments from Democrats, noting Kelly’s previous role in a violent encounter at the Capitol.
In parallel developments, reports emerged about an investigation into Captain Mark Kelly for alleged misconduct, adding another layer to the ongoing political tensions.
Fox News Digital has reached out to comment further on these developments, seeking responses from Kelly, Slotkin, and Hoolahan.
