WASHINGTON ― Michigan U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin has formed a legal defense fund as she braces for a possible federal probe following her video last month reminding members of the military and intelligence communities they may refuse illegal military orders.

The move by the Michigan Democrat follows news that the FBI's counterterrorism division has apparently launched an "inquiry" into Slotkin and the five other Democratic lawmakers who created the video, with the agency requesting voluntary interviews with each member.

"Since President Trump called for Senator Slotkin to be arrested, tried, and hanged on November 20th, he has attempted to weaponize federal law enforcement and America’s legal system against her, reportedly over the objections of career FBI personnel," Slotkin spokeswoman Sonja Thrasher said Saturday in a statement to The Detroit News.

"This legal defense fund, created with approval from the bipartisan U.S. Senate Ethics Committee, allows the senator to be prepared to fight back against any false and vindictive allegations," Thrasher added.

A Justice Department official told Reuters last month that the FBI interviews with the lawmakers were to determine "if there's any wrongdoing, and then go from there." The FBI has declined to comment.

The video by the six Democrats infuriated President Donald Trump the week before Thanksgiving, with the president accusing them of sedition and calling for their arrest, prosecution and possible execution by hanging.

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

The other Democrats are U.S. Reps. Jason Crow of Colorado, Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire and Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, who also has formed a legal defense fund.

Slotkin and the other lawmakers have emphasized that they were merely restating the law in the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which says service members may push back on illegal orders.

"Legal orders should always be followed. We're just talking about illegal orders," Slotkin said last week.

Earlier this week, Slotkin highlighted similar remarks by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in 2016 in which Hegseth said the U.S. military “won’t follow unlawful orders from their commander in chief” and noted the refusal of illegal commands as a part of the military’s ethos and standards, CNN first reported. Hegseth served in the Army and the National Guard.

Hegseth has dubbed the group of Democrats the “Seditious Six" and claimed they're spreading “despicable, reckless, and false” information. He also ordered a Pentagon investigation into Kelly, a retired Navy captain.

Members of Congress may establish a legal defense fund to help defend themselves when they face potential trouble with the law or ethical violations related to their congressional service. Creation of such a fund requires the approval of the bipartisan Senate Ethics Committee, which oversees them and requires quarterly reports on their activities.

Legal defense funds operate under restrictions including the prohibition of contributions from lobbyists or foreign agents, corporations, labor unions and Senate staffers and the lawmaker's principal campaign committee, according to Senate ethics rules.

Others may contribute up to $10,000 a year, though Slotkin and her relatives may contribute unlimited amounts, according to the watchdog group Public Citizen. The fund may be used to pay for legal fees and proceedings and leftover funds may not be transferred to a member's campaign.

(Staff writer Craig Mauger contributed.)

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