In a significant escalation of political tensions, six Democratic members of the US Congress have confirmed they are under investigation by the Justice Department under the Trump administration. The probe stems from a video message in which the legislators urged military personnel to resist "illegal orders."
Prosecutors Escalate Contact with Lawmakers
The investigation, which began with FBI contact late last year, has now advanced. The U.S. attorney’s office for the District of Columbia, led by chief federal prosecutor Jeanine Pirro, has reached out to the lawmakers seeking interviews. Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, a former CIA analyst, first revealed the prosecutors' approach in a New York Times interview on Wednesday 14 January 2026.
Slotkin later confirmed on social media platform X that Pirro's office sought an interview with her last week. She framed the move as part of a pattern of intimidation. "This is the president’s playbook. Truth doesn’t matter. Facts don’t matter," Slotkin stated. "And anyone who disagrees with him becomes an enemy. He then weaponizes the federal government against them."
Pirro’s office has declined to confirm or deny the existence of an investigation.
Defiant Democrats and Presidential Wrath
The group under scrutiny includes four House representatives and two senators, all of whom possess military or intelligence backgrounds. Alongside Slotkin, Democratic Reps. Jason Crow of Colorado, Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, and Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire confirmed on Wednesday that they had been contacted.
"They would like to sit down with us," Houlahan told reporters, noting each had received similar communication. The lawmakers remain defiant, with Crow asserting the Trump administration had "picked the wrong people."
The controversy centres on a 90-second video where the legislators advised troops to adhere to established military protocols by not following unlawful commands. They argued the administration was "pitting our uniformed military against American citizens" and called on service members to "stand up for our laws."
President Donald Trump and his aides have labelled the video "seditious." On his social media account, Trump declared such an offense was "punishable by death," a statement that has shaken the accused. "I’m still sort of wrestling with the fact that the president of the United States has asked for my execution for asking people to follow the law," Houlahan said.
Pentagon Targets Senator Mark Kelly
Separately, the Pentagon has taken direct action against Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, a former Navy pilot who featured in the video. In November, the Department of Defense opened an investigation into Kelly, invoking a federal law that allows retired service members to be recalled to active duty for potential court-martial.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has formally censured Kelly for his participation and is attempting to retroactively demote him from his retired rank of captain. In response, Kelly has filed a lawsuit against Hegseth to block these proceedings, labelling them an unconstitutional act of retribution for protected speech.
"The First Amendment forbids the government and its officials from punishing disfavoured expression or retaliating against protected speech," his lawsuit argues. The legal and political battles underscore the deepening rift over the limits of free speech and the appropriate relationship between the military, the government, and elected officials.
