'Should know better': Retired Lt. Gen slams Graham for repeating Trump sedition claims

Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling blasted Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C) on the Friday edition of “Morning Joe” for haranguing congressional Democrats who urged military service members to “refuse illegal orders.”

Graham sent letters to Democratic lawmakers with backgrounds in the military or intelligence community who were featured in a viral video urging service members to refuse illegal orders.

"This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens," the congressional Democrats said in the video posted Tuesday. “The threats to our Constitution aren't just coming from aboard, but from right here right at home. Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution."

Trump reposted the video, complaining "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!" He earlier called for the Democrats involved to be hanged.

Graham then sent his own letter, saying: “I am disturbed by your video encouraging service members and Intelligence Community professionals to refuse ‘unlawful orders’ is an understatement. In that regard, could you please provide clarity on what orders, issued by President Trump or those in his chain of command, you consider illegal?"

But Hertling accused Graham of deliberately conflating the message, which was no more than an urge for military members to obey U.S. law.

“It is especially troubling to me that Sen. Graham is the one that's making a big fuss about this, because he's a lawyer. He was a JAG lawyer in the US Air Force Reserve. He spent snippets of time with me in Iraq when I was there for longer deployments, and he was part of the legal team in the headquarters in Baghdad,” Hertling said. “So, he should know better. He is an officer.”

“Well, yeah, Lindsey knows better,” said “Morning Joe” host Joe Scarborough. “That's what's so pathetic about it. It's sad. I know Lindsey and I've known Lindsey for a long time. He's been a friend. But Lindsey knows better. These Republicans on capitol hill know better.”

- YouTubeyoutu.be