Democratic lawmakers who told military members to ignore illegal orders from President Trump say they are facing an FBI probe.
Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan confirmed the investigation on social media.
“The President directing the FBI to target us is exactly why we made this video in the first place. He believes in weaponizing the federal government against his perceived enemies and does not believe laws apply to him or his Cabinet,” she wrote. “He uses legal harassment as an intimidation tactic to scare people out of speaking up.”
Mr. Trump is furious over the video, in which the Democrats say troops have a duty to disobey orders that are “illegal.”
The lawmakers say they were echoing the code of conduct, but the administration argued that the lawmakers’ actions were designed to undermine the president and sow sedition.
Mr. Trump at one point suggested the lawmakers could face the death penalty.
“That was a traitorous statement. That was a horrible thing to do. I believe they broke the law very strongly,” Mr. Trump said on the “Brian Kilmeade Show.”
The White House also criticized the lawmakers for raising concerns about Mr. Trump’s conduct without pointing to a specific order that might be illegal.
“We want to speak directly to members of the military and the intelligence community who take risks each day to keep Americans safe,” the lawmakers said in the video. “We know you are under enormous stress and pressure right now.”
The lawmakers, taking turns delivering the lines in the video, tell the service members: “Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders. You can refuse illegal orders. You can refuse illegal orders.”
Democrats and some Republicans on Capitol Hill have raised concerns about the legality of U.S. military strikes against suspected drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean, along with deploying National Guard troops to U.S. cities to help crack down on crime.
Reps. Jason Crow of Colorado, Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania released a statement saying they were subject to the FBI probe and that investigators contacted the House and Senate sergeants-at-arms.
“No amount of intimidation or harassment will ever stop us from doing our jobs and honoring the Constitution,” they said.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he might restore Sen. Mark Kelly, Arizona Democrat, to active duty to face a court-martial for appearing in the video.
“All servicemembers are reminded that they have a legal obligation under the [Uniform Code of Military Justice] to obey lawful orders and that orders are presumed to be lawful,” the Defense Department said in a statement. “A servicemember’s personal philosophy does not justify or excuse the disobedience of an otherwise lawful order.”
It is unclear if Mr. Kelly is a target of the FBI probe, too.
Democrats have been defiant, dubbing the probe an intimidation tactic that will backfire.
“This isn’t just about a video,” Ms. Slotkin wrote. “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.”
• Mike Glenn contributed to this report.
