From PBS NewsHour.
President Donald Trump on Thursday accused a group of Democratic lawmakers of "seditious behavior, punishable by death" in a social media post.
The president was responding to a video posted Tuesday on Sen. Elissa
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Slotkin’s X account that featured Slotkin, D-Mich., Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., and Reps. Jason Crow, D-Colo., Chris Deluzio D-Pa., Maggie Goodlander, D-N.H., and Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., all of whom are veterans of the U.S. armed services or intelligence community. The lawmakers called on U.S. military members to uphold the Constitution and defy "illegal orders."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer denounced Trump’s comments on the Senate floor, calling them an "outright threat" that is "deadly serious."
"Let’s be crystal clear: The president of the United States is calling for the execution of elected officials," Schumer said.
During Thursday’s news briefing, a reporter asked White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt whether the president wanted to execute members of Congress.
"No," Leavitt responded.
"Let’s be clear about what the president is responding to, because many in this room want to talk about the president’s response," she said. "The sanctity of our military rests on the chain of command, and if that chain of command is broken, it can lead to people getting killed."
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