Murray responds to outrageous posts from President Trump: “I am calling on every one of my Republican colleagues: show some courage. Don’t just brush this one off yet again. State plainly that the President is not above the law—it’s right there in the constitution. Don’t mince words: make it clear that calls for political violence are unacceptable.”
*** WATCH VIDEO HERE; DOWNLOAD HERE***
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released a new video message condemning President Trump’s recent post calling for members of Congress to be arrested for stating that the President is not above the law and his later repost of a call to hang members of Congress.
In the video message, Senator Murray slams President Trump for endorsing political violence against elected members of Congress, saying:
“Just think about this, the President of the United States is using his platform to lift up people calling for political violence. And then, in his own words, he called this video: ‘Seditious behavior, punishable by death.’ This is twisted, dangerous stuff.
“As my colleagues, on both sides have said there is no room in our democracy for political violence, or for rhetoric that champions political violence. And as every single one of us remembers from our own oath, in this country we swear loyalty to the constitution, not to the President. The danger here should be obvious. Every single one of my colleagues should be here with me saying: President Trump’s behavior—his choice to amplify a dangerous call for violence—is completely unacceptable.
“There is a whole lot more I could say about how clearly unfit this President is for office. Believe me, I have some choice words. But in the interest of unity—I’ve tried to keep my message simple and restrained in the hopes that members on both sides will join me in saying this loud and clear. Because it’s clear the President needs to hear this message, but he needs to hear it from all of us. And frankly—I need to hear it from my colleagues too. I need to know my colleagues, who I work with every day, actually agree with me about the basic bedrock of our democracy.”
A full transcript of Senator Murray’s remarks in the video message is below:
“I was disturbed—genuinely horrified—to see President Trump call for members of Congress to be arrested for simply stating the fact that no one is above the law—not even the President. It is infuriating. It is enough to make your blood boil.
“I mean—I can’t think of anything more un-American, at least I couldn’t until Trump went further and reposted a call to hang members of Congress. All because Members of this Congress—veterans who served this country selflessly and proudly—did nothing other than simply state the plain letter of the law.
“Here’s what they said: ‘Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders… No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our constitution.’
“I whole-heartedly agree. I’ll say it myself. To the soldiers bravely serving our nation—thank you. As a voice for many servicemembers from Washington state let me state unequivocally: you can refuse illegal orders.
“Just think about this, the President of the United States is using his platform to lift up people calling for political violence. And then, in his own words, he called this video: ‘Seditious behavior, punishable by death.’ This is twisted, dangerous stuff.
“As my colleagues, on both sides have said there is no room in our democracy for political violence, or for rhetoric that champions political violence.
“And as every single one of us remembers from our own oath, in this country we swear loyalty to the constitution, not to the President. The danger here should be obvious.
“Every single one of my colleagues should be here with me saying: President Trump’s behavior—his choice to amplify a dangerous call for violence—is completely unacceptable.
“There is a whole lot more I could say about how clearly unfit this President is for office. Believe me, I have some choice words. But in the interest of unity—I’ve tried to keep my message simple and restrained in the hopes that members on both sides will join me in saying this loud and clear.
“Because it’s clear the President needs to hear this message, but he needs to hear it from all of us.
“And frankly—I need to hear it from my colleagues too. I need to know my colleagues, who I work with every day, actually agree with me about the basic bedrock of our democracy. Because how am I supposed to sit across the table from people who are silent when the President lifts up voices saying Democrats should be hanged?
“A President who calls a simple recitation of the law ‘treasonous behavior, punishable by death?’
“We’ve seen where this path goes—where silence in the face of escalating calls for violence can lead. I was here on January 6th, as were many of my colleagues. I was here while they built a gallows outside and chanted ‘hang Mike Pence.’
“Are we going to sit here and say nothing while the President riles up another crowd? Lifts up new calls for violence? Are we going to say nothing as they build another gallows?
“What exactly do my colleagues think they will be chanting this time? And why exactly do they think the President will care to stop the crowd when today he is the one lifting up calls for violence?
“We cannot wait. We cannot pretend we don’t know how serious President Trump’s actions are.
“Now, I know we may not all be in perfect agreement on how to respond, but this moment really requires us to speak with one voice.
“I am calling on every one of my Republican colleagues: show some courage.
“Don’t just brush this one off yet again. State plainly that the President is not above the law—it’s right there in the constitution. Don’t mince words: make it clear that calls for political violence are unacceptable. Something I have heard members on both sides of the aisle speak passionately about recently.
“None of that should be controversial. This is not a moment where our democracy can afford cowards and sycophants.
“I really hope every Member of Congress, every CEO, every community leader lifts up their voice.
“Say it plain: this kind of rhetoric is a disgrace—it’s not even close to acceptable coming from an American President. That is the bare minimum.”
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