Democrats Decry FBI Inquiry as Intimidation After Urging Troops to Refuse Unlawful Orders
A group of six Democratic lawmakers who recently released a video urging United States military and intelligence personnel to refuse any unlawful orders are now strongly pushing back against an apparent federal inquiry into their actions. Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan confirmed late Tuesday, November 25, 2025, that the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Counterterrorism Division contacted the House and Senate sergeants-at-arms requesting to schedule interviews with all six members involved in the controversial video. The lawmakers, all of whom have distinguished backgrounds in the military or intelligence communities, immediately denounced the move as a blatant and politically motivated scare tactic orchestrated by the administration to silence congressional criticism.
The video at the center of the dispute simply restated the long-standing military legal principle that service members have a duty to disobey any order that violates the law or the Constitution, using the clear phrase, “You can refuse illegal orders.” President Donald Trump quickly condemned the message as “Seditious Behavior, punishable by DEATH!” while the Pentagon, through Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, separately announced an investigation into one of the participants, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, a retired Navy Captain, for potential breaches of military law, citing his continued jurisdiction under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
In a joint statement, four of the House members involved—Representatives Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander, and Chrissy Houlahan—firmly stated that “President Trump is using the FBI as a tool to intimidate and harass Members of Congress.” They affirmed their oath to support and defend the Constitution, declaring, “No amount of intimidation or harassment will ever stop us from doing our jobs.” Senator Slotkin echoed this sentiment, arguing that the President’s reaction and subsequent use of the FBI against them is precisely why they produced the video in the first place, citing the administration’s pattern of attempting to weaponize government agencies against political adversaries. Meanwhile, legal experts specializing in military law have largely maintained that the lawmakers did not violate any laws, as the Uniform Code of Military Justice explicitly mandates the refusal of illegal orders.
