At a Glance
- Six Democratic lawmakers who told troops to reject unlawful commands are now under federal investigation
- The probe escalated from FBI interviews to prosecutors at U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office contacting them
- President Trump labeled their 90-second video “seditious,” a capital offense under federal law
- Why it matters: Critics call the move weaponized intimidation designed to silence dissent within the military chain of command
Six Democratic members of Congress confirmed Wednesday that the Justice Department is investigating them after President Donald Trump accused them of sedition for releasing a short video urging service members to resist illegal orders.
The four House members and two senators-all former military or intelligence personnel-said prosecutors in U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office for the District of Columbia reached out last week requesting interviews. The outreach marks a major escalation after the FBI had previously contacted them late last year.
From Video to Vindictive Probe
Sen. Elissa Slotkin, a former CIA analyst from Michigan, first revealed the prosecutor contact in an interview with The New York Times and later posted a video on X.
“This is the president’s playbook. Truth doesn’t matter. Facts don’t matter. And anyone who disagrees with him becomes an enemy,” Slotkin said. “And he then weaponizes the federal government against them. It’s legal intimidation and physical intimidation meant to get you to shut up.”
Pirro’s office declined to confirm or deny an investigation.
The 90-second clip that triggered the probe features the lawmakers reminding troops to follow established military protocols by refusing commands that violate the law. They argue the administration “is pitting our uniformed military against American citizens” and call on service members to “stand up for our laws.”
Democrats Vow to Keep Speaking Out
Reps. Jason Crow of Colorado, Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, and Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire each confirmed they have been contacted by Pirro’s office.
“Like my colleagues, I was contacted by federal prosecutors who are investigating me for making a video reminding servicemembers not to follow illegal orders,” Houlahan said in a statement. “The six of us are being targeted not because we said something untrue, but because we said something President Trump and Secretary Hegseth didn’t want anyone to hear.”
She added that her office continues to receive threats and called the investigation “ridiculous,” especially as the president weighs potential airstrikes against Iran over free-speech crackdowns.
Crow said the administration “picked the wrong people,” while Goodlander called the DOJ action “downright dangerous” and vowed the threats would not silence her.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries backed the members, saying they “did not violate the law” and that Democrats “stand firmly behind them.”
Pentagon Targets Sen. Mark Kelly
The Pentagon separately opened an investigation into Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, a retired Navy pilot featured in the video. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cited a federal statute that allows retired service members to be recalled for possible court-martial and is seeking to retroactively demote Kelly from captain.
Kelly is suing Hegseth, arguing the move is unconstitutional retaliation. His lawsuit states: “The First Amendment forbids the government and its officials from punishing disfavored expression or retaliating against protected speech.”
Legal Uncertainty Remains
It remains unclear what specific laws the lawmakers may have broken. The video simply advises troops to follow lawful orders, a principle embedded in U.S. military code. Trump nonetheless branded the message “seditious” on social media, noting the offense can be “punishable by death.”
The investigation has intensified debate over civilian-military relations and the limits of protected speech for former service members now serving in Congress.
