FBI and Justice Department to Interview Members of Congress
The FBI and Justice Department have reached out to the Capitol Police to arrange interviews with six Congress members featured in a contentious video. This video encourages military personnel to disregard orders perceived as illegal.
Recently, a group of Democratic representatives—some with military and intelligence backgrounds—came together. This includes Sen. Elissa Slotkin from Michigan, Sen. Mark Kelly from Arizona, and Representatives Chris Deluzio and Maggie Goodlander from Pennsylvania, along with Rep. Chrissy Houlahan and Congressman Jason Crow. In this video, they stated, “Our laws are clear. We can refuse illegal orders.”
In reaction to the video, President Donald Trump asserted that the lawmakers should face arrest for what he called “seditious acts.” He emphasized the severity of sedition, which, he noted, is punishable by death.
On Monday, the Department of War initiated a formal investigation into allegations of misconduct related to Kelly’s involvement with the video. The Pentagon indicated that Kelly, who is a retired Navy captain, could potentially be brought back to active duty to confront either a court-martial or other administrative actions under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Slotkin, having served with the CIA, and four other Democratic members, who are active military, are not subject to the UCMJ, according to Army Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Hegseth shared on X that while the video might seem innocuous to the average person, it carries significant implications within military circles. He characterized it as a “politically motivated influence operation,” suggesting it lacked clarity because the lawmakers didn’t specify any “unlawful orders,” leading to more ambiguity instead. His critique noted that the video utilized “carefully scripted, legal-sounding language,” and reframed military obedience through a lens of partisan distrust rather than established legal procedures.
He elaborated that vague rhetoric erodes trust and creates confusion in military hierarchies. The existing military protocols already provide clear methods for addressing illegal orders, making political questioning unnecessary. Hegseth concluded that the representatives, seasoned veterans, clearly aimed to instill suspicion through politically charged messaging, which he refused to accept.
This story is still developing, and updates will follow.
