Bailout push included threat of martial law

Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif.

WASHINGTON – During deliberations over the $700 billion federal bailout of banks and financial institutions, several members of Congress were threatened with the prospect of martial law if they did not act quickly and decisively to approve the measure, according to Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif., an ardent opponent of the plan.

"Many of us were told in private conversations, that if we didn't pass this bill on Monday, the sky would fall, the market would drop two or three thousand points, another couple thousand the second day, and a few members were even told that there would be martial law in America if we voted no," he said on the House floor Oct. 2.

Sherman's speech to colleagues was captured on C-Span. The video can be seen below:

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The statement by Sherman added to fears raised by the announcement that the Army's 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 3rd Infantry Division, after service in Iraq for 35 of the last 60 months, would, for the next 12 months, serve in the U.S. under the service wing of the Northern Command as part of an "on-call federal response force for natural or manmade emergencies and disasters, including terrorist attacks."

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