Rep. Deluzio says he won't be "intimidated" after Trump accuses lawmakers of "seditious behavior"

Pennsylvania Congressman Chris Deluzio said he won't be "intimidated" after President Trump said on social media that Democratic lawmakers who urged military members to disobey illegal orders should be arrested and face trial for "seditious behavior."

Mr. Trump said in a later post, "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!" He also reposted "HANG THEM, GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD!"

Deluzio responded in a video on Thursday, beginning by saying, "Today, Donald Trump called for my death." 

"He didn't want to hear the basic lesson that we know about our Constitution, about the oath we all take when we serve, whether in Congress or your first day out at boot camp," Deluzio went on to say. "These are bedrock principles in our country, that you follow lawful orders, that the oath to the Constitution, and that the loyalty to the Constitution comes above all."

The president's posts are in response to a video posted on Tuesday that features Deluzio and five other lawmakers who are veterans and former national security officials. They urged military and intelligence officials to "refuse illegal orders," saying "we need you to stand up for our laws, our Constitution and who we are as Americans." 

Deluzio, who represents parts of Allegheny County and all of Beaver County, said he will not be "deterred" from his duty "to represent the people who sent me to Congress, and to uphold my oath to the Constitution."

According to Deluzio's website, after he graduated from the Naval Academy, he was commissioned as an active-duty surface warfare officer. His military service included three deployments, including a tour of duty with the U.S. Army Civil Affairs in Iraq.

Deluzio ramps up security

Deluzio said he's already increasing security because he's received death threats. He said his offices in Carnegie and Beaver County received bomb threats Friday afternoon. A spokesperson for Allegheny County police said the bomb squad searched his Carnegie office, but "nothing of note was found." 

Mr. Trump talked more Friday about his posts on Fox Radio after receiving backlash.

"I'm not threatening death but I think they're in serious trouble. In the old days, it was death. That was seditious behavior, that was a big deal," Mr. Trump said.

But Deluzio said the president's response "tells me exactly what I need to know about his respect for the rule of law."

"He's done nothing to apologize or to pull back those things that he shared on social media," Deluzio said.

While some Republicans have spoken out about political violence, Deluzio just hopes more join in.

"I hope that elected officials, certainly my Republican counterparts, can find the moral courage to speak clearly and say that the president threatening violence against me and others is wrong," Deluzio said.

Pennsylvania Sen. Dave McCormick, a Republican, issued a statement, saying in part, "as I've said repeatedly, there is no place in either party for violent rhetoric and everyone needs to dial it down a notch."