A group of House and Senate Democrats who urged military service-members to defy unlawful orders from the Trump administration said Tuesday the FBI is seeking to interview them about their comments.
Why it matters: The lawmakers are accusing President Trump of using federal law enforcement as a tool for "harassment" of his political adversaries.
- "The President directing the FBI to target us is exactly why we made this video in the first place," Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), who organized the video about which the comments were made, said in a post on X.
- The White House and FBI did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Driving the news: The four House members in the video, Reps. Jason Crow (D-Colo.), Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.), Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H.) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), said in a joint statement that the FBI is seeking to interview them.
- "Yesterday, the FBI contacted the House and Senate Sergeants at Arms requesting interviews," they said.
- Slotkin said in her post that "the FBI's Counterterrorism Division appeared to open an inquiry into me in response to a video President Trump did not like."
What they're saying: "President Trump is using the FBI as a tool to intimidate and harass Members of Congress," the House members said.
- They added: "No amount of intimidation or harassment will ever stop us from doing our jobs and honoring our Constitution."
- Similarly, Slotkin said: "This is not the America I know, and I'm not going to let this next step from the FBI stop me from speaking up for my country and our Constitution."
Catch up quick: The lawmakers, all military veterans or former national security personnel, released a video to social media last week urging military service members not to comply with any unlawful orders.
- "Right now, the threats to our constitution aren't just coming from abroad, but from right here at home. Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders," they said.
- Trump responded with fury on social media, calling the video "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH."
- The Democrats said they faced a surge in death threats afterwards, with Crow's office even asking the Capitol Police to open a threat investigation into Trump.
What to watch: The FBI probe isn't the only investigation the administration has launched into the video.
- The Pentagon said Monday it is probing Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), a retired Naval officer, for "serious allegations of misconduct."
- "Senator Kelly won't be silenced by President Trump and Secretary Hegseth's attempt to intimidate him and keep him from doing his job as a U.S. senator," Kelly's spokesperson said in a statement.
Axios' Stephen Neukam contributed reporting.
