Democrat Lawmakers Push Back on Alleged FBI Probe After Troop Order Statements
Democratic legislators who urged US military personnel to disobey illegal orders are now reacting to what they call a government investigation into their actions.
Alert of Investigation
Democrat Legislator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan stated that the Federal Bureau of Investigation on the start of the week informed the six congressional members who appeared in last week's video about the examination.
"Any attempt at pressure or harassment will ever stop us from performing our duties and honoring our Constitution," several US House members stated.
Presidential Response
Their statement to troops prompted President Trump to accuse the Democrats of "seditious behavior, punishable by death" and initiated a Defense Department examination of "serious allegations of misconduct" against Democrat Senator Mark Kelly of the state of Arizona, who likewise participated in the recording.
The Justice Department refused to provide statement on the reported probe.
Video Details
The recording by Democrats, all of whom have worked in the armed forces or intelligence community, was distributed recently by Slotkin and features Kelly and US Representatives Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander, Chrissy Houlahan and Jason Crow.
The message emerged amid escalating friction between the current administration and the government of Venezuela, as well as Democratic-controlled municipalities resisting Trump's deployment of National Guard troops to the region.
Federal Bureau Involvement
Slotkin stated on the following day that the Federal Bureau of Investigation's counterterrorism unit delivered a notification to the legislators to inform them of an reported investigation into the lawmakers.
"The President's response and the use of the FBI against us is precisely why we created the video," she said at an event in her home state.
"He believes in using the national government against his imagined opponents, and he's not hesitant to utilize the arms of the government against individuals he opposes," she said, describing Trump's behavior as "a scare tactic."
Legislative Reaction
Similarly, US representatives Deluzio, Goodlander, Houlahan and Crow asserted that Trump is using the FBI as "instrument to intimidate and target" legislators, confirming that the FBI contacted the House and Senate Sergeants at Arms to request meetings.
"We took an pledge to uphold and protect the founding document of the United States of America. That commitment is permanent, and we plan to keep it. We won't be intimidated. We refuse to give up the ship," they declared.
Presidential Response
The video - in which the Arizona senator accused the government of "pitting our armed forces and intelligence community professionals against the American people" - drew Trump's ire and he implied on social media that they be detained, imprisoned and executed.
His words received cross-party condemnation and the president eventually walked back his remarks in a TV interview, explaining that he was "not advocating capital punishment."
Defense Department Action
On Monday, the Pentagon alleged the Arizona legislator, a former officer in the Navy and space explorer, of breaching military law. The defence department said it would conduct a review to establish whether the state lawmaker should be recalled to military service to undergo court-martial proceedings.
Although the senator retired from the military, he is nevertheless bound by the Uniform Code of Military Justice - a federal law established by Congress in 1951 that holds members of the armed forces to a unique system of rules.
Military Secretary Statement
Defence secretary Pete Hegseth charged Kelly of violating the military code and of employing his position and service affiliation as a way to lend "the appearance of authority to his words" in the recording.
He added that the senator's behavior "brings discredit upon the military and will be handled appropriately."
Senator Response
But the Arizona senator also responded, stating that he has "given too much to this nation to be silenced by intimidators who prioritize their own authority than defending the founding document."
Accounts suggested on Tuesday that the Federal Bureau and Department of Justice contacted Capitol Police to arrange interviews with the half-dozen members of Congress.
The FBI declined to comment on that day when contacted by media outlets.
