AMNA NAWAZ: Half-a-dozen Democrats in Congress# with military and intelligence backgrounds## are urging current service members to ignore the# chain of command if they're given unlawful orders.

REP.

CHRIS DELUZIO (D-PA): Right now,## the threats to our Constitution# ar.. REP.

JASON CROW (D-CO): ...# but from right here at home.

SEN.

MARK KELLY (D-AZ): Our laws are# clear.

You can refus.. SEN.

ELISSA SLOTKIN (D-MI):# You can refuse illegal orders.

REP.

CHRIS DELUZIO: You# must refuse illegal orders.

SEN.

ELISSA SLOTKIN: No one has to# carry out orders that violate the law... REP.

CHRISSY HOULAHAN (D-PA):# ... or our Constitution.

AMNA NAWAZ: Now, they didn't specify# which orders they consider unlawful,## but President Trump has fired back,# writing on social media these members## of Congress should be -- quote -- "arrested# and put on trial," saying their actions are## seditious behavior from traitors that# is -- quote -- "punishable by death."

Congressman Jason Crow of Colorado# is a retired Army Ranger and one of## the Democrats you just heard from# in that video.

He joins me now.

Congressman, welcome to the# show.

Thanks for joining us.

REP.

JASON CROW: Hi, Amna.

AMNA NAWAZ: So, Karoline Leavitt,#.. was asked about all this in the briefing today.# I just want to play for you her response.

QUESTION: Just to be clear, does the# president want to execute members of Congress?

KAROLINE LEAVITT, White House Press Secretary:# No.

Let's be clear about what the president is## responding to.

You have sitting members of# the United States Congress who conspired## together to orchestrate a video message# to members of the United States military,## to active-duty service members, to members# of the national security apparatus,## encouraging them to defy the# president's lawful orders.

AMNA NAWAZ: Congressman, I just want to get## your response to the latest# from the White House.. REP.

JASON CROW: Well, first off,# Karoline Leavitt is just lying.

We specifically said to unlawful orders --# that they don't have to obey unlawful orders,## which actually is what the Constitution# says, what the Uniform Code of Military## Justice says and what we were trained# on when we were in uniform as well.

This administration wants people to think# that simply reminding people of their oath## and what the law requires is somehow criminal and# should result in treason and hanging, because,## secondly, that is what the president said# this morning.

He called for a treason trial.## He called for our arrest.

And he called# specifically for our execution by hanging.

AMNA NAWAZ: So, to be specific here, then,# Congressman, which unlawful orders are you asking## military members to refuse?

What did you see# that prompted you and others to make this video?

REP.

JASON CROW: The point of this video# was not to point to specific orders.

It's## to prepare our service members, our young# men and women, who are going to be put in## very difficult positions in the years ahead# to understand their oath and their obligation.

And there's plenty of reason to be concerned.# Donald Trump actually asked whether he could## shoot protesters in the leg during# the protests at Lafayette Square.## Donald Trump has said he's going to go to war# with Chicago and send troops into our cities,## several of which have already been# declared illegal by federal courts.

So there's plenty of reason to be# concerned.

And we want to start a## public conversation about what the obligation# of our troops really is, in the very same way,## I will say, that I did before I deployed# my paratrooper platoon to Iraq in 2003,## because once you get to the point where# they are faced with an instant decision,## it's too late if you haven't already# had that conversation with them.

AMNA NAWAZ: Well, Congressman, for military# members who are trying to navigate this now,## I want to put to you what I heard from# the director of The Orders Project,## which is a nonprofit that offers legal advice to## military service members who are unclear# about their orders or worried about them.

And they have been seeing an uptake in calls# recently.

But this person also said that any## service member who disobeys an order on the# basis that it's unlawful does run the risk## that a military judge will disagree.

And# then they have to face the consequences.

Are you saying to military members# they should take on that risk?

REP.

JASON CROW: Well, listen, every# military member takes on that risk.## Service is hard.

Being in# the military is very hard.

So what we want to do is send a# message that members of Congress,## their fellow veterans, we stand by them, we see# them, and we are reminding them of their oath.

AMNA NAWAZ: Congressman, you# have served honorably.

We thank## you for your service.

So did most in that video.

But so did retired Four-Star General Barry# McCaffrey.

And he had this to say in response## to your video.

He said: "This action by# Democrats is unwarranted and dangerous.## Focus on your own responsibilities in Congress# to oppose military actions you believe are wrong## or illegal.

Support the judicial system to push# back.

Don't call on the military to stop Trump."

What do you say to that?

REP.

JASON CROW: Well, we're# not calling on the military## to stop Trump.

We're calling on# the military to fulfill oaths.

And, unfortunately, I think General McCaffrey# doesn't understand the moment that we're in,## the challenges that this administration# is presenting to the troops.

And I think## he doesn't understand the time and the# challenges that leaders face right now.

AMNA NAWAZ: Do you not trust# that the courts will continue## to push back or slow or stop Trump# policies as they have been doing?

REP.

JASON CROW: They may.

They may# not.

And even when courts issue orders,## over a third of the time, this administration# disregards lawful orders of the courts,## right?

They simply disregard# court orders time and time again.

So my job as a member of Congress is to do# everything possible to uphold the Constitution and## to defend this country.

I don't rely on anybody# to help me fulfill my duties, right?

This is a## project the entire country needs to undertake.# Courts have an obligation.

Citizens have an## obligation.

The military has an obligation.

Law# enforcement has an obligation.

And I have mine.

AMNA NAWAZ: We saw Senate Minority Leader# Chuck Schumer say today he's asked for## special protections for Senators Slotkin and# Kelly, who appeared with you in that video,## after the president's post about# seditions.

Are you worried about your## own safety?

Have you seen any increase# in threats since the president's post?

REP.

JASON CROW: Yes, we have received# threats.

And we take those very seriously.

I mean, this is actually making the point that# the president continues to incite violence## in vitriolic rhetoric and partisanship over# and over again.

And it's very serious stuff,## right?

People sometimes act on what# Donald Trump and others say, right?

They certainly did on January 6.

So I understand# the threats that we face right now.

I take those## seriously.

But I will not be intimidated.# But what Donald Trump wants is, he wants to## use fear and intimidation to silence dissent,# to silence opposition, and to silence speech.

And I am not allowed -- I'm not# going to allow that to happen,## because the moment we allow that to happen is# the moment we lose our democracy.

And I will## not allow it to happen.

Fear is contagious,# but so is courage.

And I intend to lead.

AMNA NAWAZ: Congressman Jason Crow of Colorado,## thank you for making the time to# speak with us.

We appreciate it.

REP.

JASON CROW: Thank you.