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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMaddowBlog-In prior remarks, Hegseth and Bondi also said troops must disobey illegal orders
If the administration intends to investigate Democratic veterans in Congress, it should prepare equal treatment for members of the White House Cabinet.
In prior remarks, Hegseth and Bondi also said troops must disobey illegal orders - MS NOW
— (@oc88.bsky.social) 2025-12-09T17:49:00.527Z
apple.news/AtPlYxgM_Q1S...
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/in-prior-remarks-hegseth-and-bondi-also-said-troops-must-disobey-illegal-orders
CNN reported last week, for example, that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, whos helped advance the partisan offensive against the Democratic veterans, delivered remarks in 2016 explaining that U.S. military personnel wont follow unlawful orders from their commander in chief and described the refusal of illegal commands as a part of the militarys ethos and standards.
CNN also found that, as Election Day 2016 drew closer, the former Fox News host told viewers that service members are not going to follow illegal orders.
That is to say, eight years ago, the future Pentagon chief delivered the same message he and Trump are now condemning.
Evidently, Hegseth is not alone. The New York Times reported:
In the legal brief, which is available online through the high courts website, Bondi wrote, Military officers are required not to carry out unlawful orders. The Florida Republican added, The military would not carry out a patently unlawful order from the president to kill nonmilitary targets. Indeed, service members are required not to do so.
Im going to go out on a limb and say that the Trump administration wont launch sedition investigations into the incumbent presidents defense secretary and attorney general, but if officials continue to pursue Democratic veterans in Congress, they should probably prepare an answer to a straightforward question: Why arent you also pursuing cases against the presidents defense secretary and attorney general?
CNN also found that, as Election Day 2016 drew closer, the former Fox News host told viewers that service members are not going to follow illegal orders.
That is to say, eight years ago, the future Pentagon chief delivered the same message he and Trump are now condemning.
Evidently, Hegseth is not alone. The New York Times reported:
Pam Bondi, the attorney general, said the same thing as the [Democratic] lawmakers last year in a friend-of-the-court brief in the Supreme Court as a lawyer for the America First Policy Institute, a conservative think tank that represented three former military leaders.
In the legal brief, which is available online through the high courts website, Bondi wrote, Military officers are required not to carry out unlawful orders. The Florida Republican added, The military would not carry out a patently unlawful order from the president to kill nonmilitary targets. Indeed, service members are required not to do so.
Im going to go out on a limb and say that the Trump administration wont launch sedition investigations into the incumbent presidents defense secretary and attorney general, but if officials continue to pursue Democratic veterans in Congress, they should probably prepare an answer to a straightforward question: Why arent you also pursuing cases against the presidents defense secretary and attorney general?
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MaddowBlog-In prior remarks, Hegseth and Bondi also said troops must disobey illegal orders (Original Post)
LetMyPeopleVote
Dec 2025
OP
Turbineguy
(40,077 posts)1. Hegseth and Bondi are talking about orders given by Democrats.
Cha
(319,087 posts)2. Fuck Off PEDO Appeasers Bondi, Hegs, and the
the PEDO.
haele
(15,404 posts)3. Okay, if it's an action that can help you, you can refuse...
Like getting a vaccine, or having to provide something healthy to eat, or carrying enough water for your squad when out on exercise...you can disobey those orders.
But an action that causes needless, illegal death and injury. or otherwise wastes taxpayer money - well, no - you can't disobey those orders.
(Added on edit just in case)