A discussion on CNN regarding the potential investigation of six Democratic lawmakers took a sharp turn Tuesday, as Republican strategist Scott Jennings challenged the framing of the debate, arguing the true controversy lies not in the inquiry itself, but in the lawmakers’ suggestions that the military might receive illegal orders.
The exchange occurred on “The Arena” amid news that the Pentagon has opened an inquiry into Arizona Senator Mark Kelly. Kelly, along with five other Democrats, recently appeared in a video advising U.S. troops that they have the right to refuse “illegal” directives from President Donald Trump.
CNN host Kasie Hunt pressed Jennings on the optics of the investigation, asking if the involvement of law enforcement was politically motivated.
“Democrats who are in power and there are Republicans who are making political videos, right? Are they going to use the FBI to investigate them too, right?” Hunt asked.
Jennings, however, rejected the premise that the Republican response was purely procedural or retaliatory. Instead, he pointed to a genuine anger within the GOP regarding the implications of the Democrats’ video.
“Plenty of Republicans are outraged about this,” Jennings countered. “This video was clearly designed to try to create a narrative among the American people that the president had been or was about to give illegal orders.”
Jennings suggested that the Democratic lawmakers were reacting to administration moves regarding Venezuela, though he noted the justifications offered so far have been thin. He specifically referenced comments made by Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin, another participant in the video.
“They did ask Elissa Slotkin on TV, and she cited a Hollywood movie to rationalize or justify what she had done,” Jennings noted, referring to Slotkin’s recent admission that she could not cite a specific illegal order from the Trump administration when pressed.
READ: Pentagon Threatens To Court-Martial Arizona Senator Mark Kelly Over ‘Unlawful Orders’ Video
While acknowledging that some within the GOP remain “circumspect” regarding the specific use of law enforcement or the FBI to handle the matter, Jennings emphasized that the political consensus is one of condemnation.
“Most Republicans I know are pretty darn angry that Democrats made an irresponsible public statement trying to tell the American people that the commander-in-chief had been or was giving, about to give, an illegal order,” he said.
The controversy centers on what War Secretary Pete Hegseth has dubbed the “seditious six.” In a post on X Monday, Hegseth highlighted that Senator Kelly, a retired Navy commander, remains subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), which prohibits commissioned officers from using contemptuous words against the President.
As the Pentagon inquiry moves forward, the debate continues to split along partisan lines: Democrats view the investigation as an escalation of political retribution, while Republicans view the original video as an undermining of the chain of command.
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