Friend,

I spent 26 years in two different branches of our military. I’ve practiced military law as an Air Force JAG and taught the Law of Armed Conflict to future officers at the Air Force Academy.

I swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. And everyone who has served knows that oath has no expiration date.

That is why I am profoundly disturbed by the threat to invoke the Insurrection Act in response to events in Minneapolis.

Let me be as clear as possible: The United States military should never, EVER be used as a political weapon against the American people.

Pitting our brave service members—the very people who swore an oath to protect our constitutional rights—against American civilians on American soil is a catastrophic violation of our foundational principles. It is a betrayal of the bond between military personnel and the citizens they serve.

Using federal troops to suppress domestic dissent is the hallmark of a regime, not a republic. It is a slippery slope toward a direct assault on the First Amendment rights of every American.

While Senior Senate Armed Services Committee Member Mike Rounds stays mum, I am calling this what it is: A reckless, unconstitutional abuse of power.

I am running as an Independent because we need a Senator who actually understands the law and, most importantly, has the backbone to defend it.

I will always stand for the rule of law. I will always protect the constitutional rights of South Dakotans. And I will never support pitting our military against our neighbors. I’m asking for your support in my campaign to defeat Rounds and restore a voice for freedom in South Dakota.

Your donation today funds the only campaign in this race with the experience and the courage to call balls and strikes on these abuses of power.

Thank you for standing for integrity over chaos.

Brian Bengs
Independent Candidate for U.S. Senate

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