Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) is reportedly facing a federal investigation connected to a contentious video. In the video, she and other congressional members urged military personnel to “reject illegal orders,” stirring some significant backlash.
According to Slotkin, she learned that this investigation was set in motion by U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro. Reports indicate that Pirro’s office reached out to the Senate sergeant-at-arms, seeking a meeting with Slotkin or her attorney. Slotkin described the inquiry as an attempt by an authoritarian president to intimidate through the federal government.
She mentioned, “The facts matter little, but the threat matters a great deal,” emphasizing the seriousness of potential legal repercussions directed at her and her associates.
Slotkin’s controversial video, which went online in November, featured various Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Mark Kelly from Arizona and others with military or intelligence backgrounds. The video was criticized as a call to action against President Donald Trump and Army Secretary Pete Hegseth.
In response, Trump condemned the video in several posts on Truth Social, characterizing the actions of those involved as “inflammatory.” He called it “sedition at the highest level” and insisted that those who engaged should face consequences.
On the same day, Trump intensified his rhetoric, stating, “Sedition deserves the death penalty!” which drew widespread condemnation as a perceived threat.
The timing of the video coincided with a heated national discussion regarding Trump’s deployment of the National Guard in various U.S. cities. Slotkin, who has a history as a CIA officer and served in Iraq, is now under scrutiny as part of this investigation.
For his part, Mark Kelly has filed a lawsuit against the Army and Hegseth after claims that his military pension was unjustly affected due to the video. His legal complaint argues that the actions of the Trump administration infringe upon constitutional protections for legislative independence.
The lawsuit alleges unprecedented executive action against a lawmaker for political speech, claiming it violates multiple constitutional guarantees. An Army official acknowledged awareness of the lawsuit but refrained from commenting further due to ongoing litigation.
Meanwhile, Hegseth has initiated steps to censure Kelly, stating that he has asked Navy Secretary John Phelan to evaluate Kelly’s military rank and retirement benefits over alleged “inflammatory statements” that could undermine military functions.
Kelly expressed concern about what he called an “unconstitutional campaign” against him, warning that it sends a troubling message to veterans about consequences for speaking out against the administration.
Neither Slotkin’s nor Pirro’s offices immediately responded for comment.
