Sen. Slotkin Confronts Sec. Hegseth on Military Use Against Protesters

Military Use Against Protesters

• 📌 Senator Slotkin expresses concern over the potential use of the military in ways that contradict the constitution and taint an apolitical military.
• ⚠️ She questions Secretary Hegseth about accepting an order, similar to one given to former Secretary Esper, to deploy active duty troops against unarmed protesters and potentially "shoot at them."
• ⚡ Hegseth dismisses the scenario as theoretical, but Slotkin points to the deployment of 4,700 troops to Los Angeles without the governor's permission, a move not seen since 1965.
• 🎯 Slotkin emphasizes that using the military as a first resort, rather than a last resort, is a fundamental issue for American democracy.

Authority and Orders

• ❓ Slotkin directly asks Hegseth if he has authorized the uniform military to detain or arrest protesters in Los Angeles, seeking a "yes or no" answer.
• 🗣️ Hegseth states the troops are there to protect law enforcement and could temporarily detain individuals to hand over to ICE if necessary, but denies any arresting of US military against protesters.
• 🔍 Slotkin presses for clarity on the specific orders given to the military, questioning if they have the authority to arrest and detain citizens.
• 💻 She also inquires whether US military cyber tools have been authorized to investigate protesters, to which Hegseth responds he is not aware of any such authorization.

Comparison to Former Secretary Esper

• 👏 Slotkin credits former Defense Secretary Mark Esper for having "more guts and balls" because he reportedly refused an order to deploy the military against unarmed protesters and shoot at their legs.
• 📖 She references Esper's account in his book, stating it is not hearsay and highlights his refusal as a principled stand.
• 🏛️ Slotkin contrasts Esper's actions with Hegseth's responses, suggesting Hegseth does not understand the importance of an apolitical military.

Concerns on Iran and Future Planning

• ✈️ Slotkin shifts to the topic of Iran, noting a debate within Hegseth's party about potential military action.
• 📊 She asks if any "day after" planning, force protection, or cost assessments have been commissioned for the use of ground troops in Iran.
• 🗺️ Hegseth responds generally that they have plans for everything, without providing specific details on Iran planning.