FBI probing Democratic lawmakers who warned against 'illegal' military orders, Slotkin says

Jennifer L. Pignolet and Melissa Nann Burke, The Detroit News on Nov 25, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

INKSTER, Mich. — U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin said Tuesday that the FBI's counterterrorism division has launched an "inquiry" into her and five other Democratic lawmakers who created a video urging members of the military that they may defy illegal orders.

"Last night, the counterterrorism division at the FBI sent a note to the members of Congress saying they are opening what appears to be an inquiry against the six of us," Slotkin told reporters Tuesday at a fire hall in Inkster.

Slotkin in a joint statement with the other Democrats said the FBI had requested interviews with each lawmaker via the House and Senate Sergeants at Arms. They accused President Donald Trump of "using the FBI as a tool to intimidate and harass members of Congress."

Last week, Slotkin, a former CIA officer who served in Iraq, and five other Democratic lawmakers with backgrounds of service in the military and intelligence positions posted a video on social media saying military members can refuse unspecified illegal orders. "No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution," the lawmakers said.

President Donald Trump responded in fury, accusing the six Democrats of sedition and calling for their arrest, prosecution and possible execution.

"SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!" Trump wrote in one post on his Truth Social platform.

The other Democrats are Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona and U.S. Reps. Jason Crow of Colorado, Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, and Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire.

Slotkin said Tuesday that Trump has turned the federal law enforcement agency against the six sitting members of Congress.

"To be honest, the president's reaction and use of the FBI against us is exactly why we need the video — he believes in using the federal government against his perceived adversaries, and he's not afraid to use the arms of the government against people he disagrees with," Slotkin said.

The news of the FBI inquiry followed the Pentagon announcing Monday that it was investigating Kelly for possible breaches of military law for the former Navy pilot's role in the video with Slotkin and the other Democratic lawmakers.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the "radical" message from the Democratic group could "inspire chaos, and it could incite violence, and it certainly could disrupt the chain of command."

Leavitt claimed the group was encouraging service members to defy "lawful orders," but they instead said “you can refuse illegal orders” and “you must refuse illegal orders.”

"That is a very, very dangerous message, and it perhaps is punishable by law. I'm not a lawyer. I'll leave that to the Department of Justice and the Department of War to decide," Leavitt said during a Thursday White House press briefing.

Leavitt also said all the president's orders as commander in chief are lawful.

The U.S. Capitol Police assigned around-the-clock protection to Slotkin on Thursday, hours after Trump targeted her and the other five lawmakers on social media.

_____