FBI moves to question Democrats over “defy illegal orders” video as Trump escalates rhetoric

The FBI has requested interviews with six Democratic lawmakers who appeared in a social media video urging US service members to “defy illegal orders”, a move the legislators describe as political intimidation rather than a legitimate investigation.

The development follows the Pentagon’s decision to review Senator Mark Kelly, a Navy veteran and one of the six, over possible violations of military law. President Donald Trump has previously accused the group of sedition, warning online that the crime is “punishable by DEATH”.

Senator Elissa Slotkin said the FBI’s counterterrorism division notified Congress that it was opening what “appears to be an inquiry against the six of us”. She described the move as a “scare tactic”.

“Whether you agree with the video or don’t agree with the video, the question to me is: Is this the appropriate response for a president of the United States to go after and seek to weaponise the federal government against those he disagrees with?” Slotkin said.

The video, released last week, featured all six lawmakers, each with prior military or intelligence service, arguing that US troops swear loyalty to the Constitution, not the president, and are bound to follow only “lawful general order or regulation”.

The other Democrats involved are Representatives Jason Crow, Maggie Goodlander, Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan. In a joint statement, the four House members accused Trump of using the FBI to “intimidate and harass Members of Congress”.

“Yesterday, the FBI contacted the House and Senate Sergeants-at-Arms requesting interviews,” they said, adding: “No amount of intimidation or harassment will ever stop us from doing our jobs and honoring our Constitution.”

The Justice Department confirmed the interviews were aimed at determining “if there’s any wrongdoing, and then go from there”. The FBI is currently led by Trump appointee Kash Patel.

Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has referred Kelly to the secretary of the Navy for “potentially unlawful comments” made in the video, requesting a briefing on the review’s outcome by December 10.