'You're taking it back to the 1800s?' CNN host rejects GOP lawmaker's big military claim
CNN's Audie Cornish rejected a Republican congressman's defense of President Donald Trump's threats against Democratic lawmakers.
The president last month accused six elected Democrats of "seditious behavior," which he said was "punishable by death," for recording a video urging military and intelligence service members not to follow illegal orders – and that reminder took on enhanced meaning over revelations about an attack on survivors of a boat strike near Venezuela.
"[Uniform Code of Military Justice] says that you're neverobligated to follow an unlawfulorder," said Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT). "But this is what'shappening, you've heard itevery day over 3,000 times. Thispresident is unlawful, thispresident's actions areunconstitutional. His actionsto deploy the [National] Guard isunlawful. His action to supportICE is unlawful."
Cornish pointed out that those actions are still being challenged in court.
"Yeah, but it's not unlawful," Zinke argued.
"Yet," Cornish said, smiling.
"Well, it's not unlawful," Zinke continued, "and to to suggest and topromote that a service memberviolate the UCMJ – by the way,the penalty for sedition isdeath, I think the president wasright. You know, General Washington, if those members ofthe House and the Senate were inhis Army, if they're in the Army, they probably would havebeen hung. General Washingtonhung men for deserting theirpost."
Cornish was baffled by the congressman's historical analogy.
"I mean, a lot has changedsince then, includinginternational law around war andlaws of war," Cornish said, and then checked her watch. "You're taking itback to the 1800s?"
"President Washington wouldhave a shorter rope, andcertainly today the shorterrope," Zinke added. "So members of Congress, Article One, Article Two, theysay what they like, but it isseditious to to suggest thattroops disobey alawful order and suggest thispresident – remember the contextis this president is unlawful, therefore you don't have to youdon't have to follow hisorders. That's a very dangerousroad. UCMJ, the bar is muchhigher on what's lawful andwhat's not lawful."
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