FBI Probes Six Democratic Lawmakers Over Video on Refusing Unlawful Orders

The FBI has requested interviews with six Democratic members of Congress after they appeared in a video telling U.S. military personnel that they are legally permitted to refuse unlawful orders. The Justice Department confirmed the inquiry, which comes amid sharp criticism from President Donald Trump, who accused the lawmakers of sedition — a charge that does not apply to civilians under U.S. law. The Pentagon also threatened to recall Senator Mark Kelly, a Navy veteran, to active duty to potentially face military charges, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth calling the video “seditious.”

The lawmakers, including Senator Elissa Slotkin and Representatives Jason Crow, Maggie Goodlander, Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan, denounced the investigations as an attempt to intimidate them. Slotkin said the administration’s actions reinforced the very concerns raised in their video, stressing that U.S. troops swear an oath to the Constitution, not the president, and are obligated only to follow lawful orders. The four House Democrats released a joint statement accusing Trump of weaponizing the FBI to silence political opponents, vowing they “would not be intimidated.”

Their message did not cite specific orders, but many Democrats and some military officials have raised concerns about the legality of recent Trump administration actions, including strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels in Latin American waters and the deployment of military forces in American cities. The administration has drawn criticism for using federal agencies against perceived critics, with recent criminal cases against notable opponents dismissed by the courts. The FBI inquiry adds to growing tensions between the White House and lawmakers over constitutional limits on presidential power.

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