Vindman Supports Legislation to Prevent Illegal Domestic Troop Deployments and Voter Intimidation Ahead of Midterm Election

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Eugene Vindman (Va.-07) joined Congressman Pat Ryan (N.Y.-18) and four of their Democratic Veteran colleagues in the U.S. House in introducing legislation to prevent the president from weaponizing the military to interfere with elections. Specifically, the bill would empower Congress to stop or reverse any domestic troop deployment ordered by the president.

The introduction follows months of threats and actions by the Trump Administration to interfere with the November midterm elections and amid new reports from the Atlantic that advisors close to the President are encouraging him to declare martial law. Trump has repeatedly refused to rule out declaring a national emergency on elections, has already deployed thousands of U.S. troops against U.S. citizens in American cities, and suggested that Republicans should "nationalize " the midterm elections and "take over" the voting process. When asked directly in a House Armed Services Committee (HASC) hearing, a senior Trump military official refused to rule out troop deployments to polling sites.

"As a 25-year Army veteran, I know our troops should never be asked to carry out the political will of a president at the expense of our democracy. Our military swears an oath to the U.S. Constitution and the American people, not any one president or political party," said Vindman. "The prospect of using our armed forces to influence or interfere with our elections is dangerous and fundamentally at odds with the oath every service member takes. Congress must make clear that our military cannot be weaponized to interfere with Americans' right to vote, and that our elections must remain free from intimidation, and military interference."

"Patriots in uniform sign up to fight for fundamental American freedoms - not against them. Trump using U.S. servicemembers as political pawns is straight-up un-American, and we're not going to let him get away with it," said Ryan. "Trump and those around him are scared - they know the American people are fed up with the war in Iran and skyrocketing prices. Instead of working to lower costs, Trump and his team are cooking up ways to intimidate voters, refusing to rule out domestic troop deployments. This bill provides a necessary check on the President. If he deploys troops, Congress can and will stop him. We won't let this chickenhawk president exploit our servicemembers just because he can't face the fact that the American people are fed up with his failed agenda of higher costs and unprecedented corruption."

Joining Vindman and Ryan are fellow Democratic veterans and U.S. Representatives Maggie Goodlander (N.H.-02), Chris Deluzio (Pa.-17), Chrissy Houlahan (Pa.-06), and Jimmy Panetta (Calif.-19).

Senator Elissa Slotkin (Mich.) introduced companion legislation in the Senate. The bicameral legislation also includes $1 billion in new resources for state and local law enforcement on the ground.

BACKGROUND

Vindman is a 25-year Army veteran and member of the Democratic Veterans Caucus; Vindman also sits on the House Armed Services Committee, where he has become the leading voice of opposition to Trump's war in Iran.

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