A former Army Ranger who now serves in Congress, Rep. Jason Crow, criticized President Donald Trump’s threats to use military forces to end street protests. He thinks military leaders should speak out against Trump, even if it risks their jobs. (June 4) Watch here.
Video Transcript
JASON CROW: Our system of checks and balances is in jeopardy. You know, I spent most of January making the case to the US Senate as to why this president was unfit and should be removed from office. And the point was that he always will put his own benefit ahead of the benefit of the country. And he does not have fidelity to the oath that he took when he became president. And that makes him dangerous. It makes him a danger to our democracy and to our institutions.
And when I fought overseas for our country, you know, I fought so that, you know, we could defend our freedom over there and protect the rights and civil liberties of people protesting and defending our constitution here. So I get very concerned when I see soldiers being mobilized, particularly as they were the other day, to interfere with people’s first amendment rights that were peacefully protesting and assembling. It’s not what our military should be doing. It’s not what our military is at its core. And it really jeopardizes our system.
MARK ESPER: The option to use active duty forces in a law enforcement role should only be used as a matter of last resort and only in the most urgent and dire of situations. We are not in one of those situations now.
JASON CROW: Maybe the job is in jeopardy for any person in service, whether that’s Secretary Esper or General Miller or anybody serving our country. But that’s public service. That’s the very definition of service. You’re serving the country. You’re serving the greater good.
And sometimes they have to sacrifice their job too. That’s not asking a lot. And we are certainly in a situation where the president demands complete and full loyalty to himself, not to the Constitution. And that demands that some people risk their jobs or even resign in some instances to make sure they’re fulfilling their duty to the country.
