FBI Investigating Democrats Who Told Troops To Resist Illegal Orders From Trump

By Chris Spiker From Daily Voice

The FBI has launched an investigation into six Democratic members of Congress who made a video urging soldiers to reject illegal orders from President Donald Trump.

The lawmakers confirmed the FBI's investigation in a joint statement on Tuesday, Nov. 25. The probe comes a week after the lawmakers released the video telling troops and intelligence officials to reject unconstitutional orders from the Trump administration.

Trump angrily responded with several posts on his social media platform Truth Social, accusing them of "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!" During a Fox News Radio interview, Trump claimed he wasn't threatening the lawmakers with executions, but stood by his posts.

The joint statement came from Reps. Jason Crow of Colorado, Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, and Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania. Rep. Houlahan's district includes Berks and Chester counties, while Rep. Deluzio represents parts of the greater Pittsburgh area.

The lawmakers called the FBI inquiry "a tool to intimidate and harass" them.

"No amount of intimidation or harassment will ever stop us from doing our jobs and honoring our Constitution," they said. "We swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. That oath lasts a lifetime, and we intend to keep it. We will not be bullied. We will never give up the ship."

The FBI contacted the House and Senate Sergeants at Arms seeking interviews with the lawmakers. The probe also comes as the Department of Defense opens an investigation into Sen. Mark Kelly, a former Navy combat pilot who was also in the video.

In a statement, Kelly responded to a social media post from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announcing the investigation into the Arizona Democrat.

"Secretary Hegseth's tweet is the first I heard of this," said Kelly. "I also saw the President's posts saying I should be arrested, hanged, and put to death. If this is meant to intimidate me and other members of Congress from doing our jobs and holding this administration accountable, it won't work. I've given too much to this country to be silenced by bullies who care more about their own power than protecting the Constitution."

Hegseth replied to Kelly, mocking a photo he posted of his naval uniform.

"So 'Captain' Kelly, not only did your sedition video intentionally undercut good order & discipline...but you can't even display your uniform correctly," Hegseth wrote. "Your medals are out of order & rows reversed. When/if you are recalled to active duty, it'll start with a uniform inspection."

In a second post, Hegseth blasted the lawmakers, who are either veterans or former national security officials, as the "Seditious Six."

"The despicable video urging [DoD] troops to 'refuse illegal orders' may seem harmless to civilians — but it carries a different weight inside the military," he posted. "This was a politically-motivated influence operation."

Wikimedia Commons - Secretary of Defense

Trump has faced widespread criticism for deploying National Guard and federal law enforcement units to many major cities like Charlotte, North Carolina; Chicago; Los Angeles; Portland, Oregon; and Washington, DC. Trump has claimed that the deployments were needed to address crime and expand his immigration crackdown.

Critics also accuse Trump of extrajudicial killings in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Trump has ordered military airstrikes on small boats that his administration claims are involved in drug trafficking.

Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin, who posted and appeared in the lawmakers' video, is among 14 Senate Democrats pushing for more transparency about the strikes. The senators sent a letter to Hegseth and Attorney General Pam Bondi, calling for a legal opinion from the Department of Justice regarding the military operations to be declassified.

The 21 airstrikes have killed at least 83 people since September, according to the senators.

"Few decisions are more consequential for a democracy than the use of lethal force," the senators wrote. "We therefore believe that the declassification and public release of this important document would enhance transparency in the use of deadly force by our nation's military and is necessary to ensure Congress and the American people are fully informed of the legal justification supporting these strikes."

In September, Trump signed an executive order to change the DoD's name to "Department of War," but the rebranding requires congressional approval.