FBI Seeks Interviews With Six Democrats After Trump Labels Their Video 'Seditious'

The FBI is scheduling interviews with six Democratic lawmakers who appeared in a video urging members of the military and intelligence communities not to follow illegal orders, according to a person familiar with the matter. The outreach follows public accusations from former President Donald Trump that the lawmakers engaged in "seditious behavior."

Who is involved

The lawmakers who appeared in the video include four House members — Reps. Jason Crow (Colorado), Maggie Goodlander (New Hampshire), Chris Deluzio (Pennsylvania) and Chrissy Houlahan (Pennsylvania) — and two senators, Mark Kelly (Arizona) and Elissa Slotkin (Michigan). The lawmakers said they were contacted about the FBI effort through House or Senate sergeants-at-arms.

Official responses and reactions

Four House members released a joint statement accusing the president of "using the FBI as a tool to intimidate and harass Members of Congress." In part they said:

"No amount of intimidation or harassment will ever stop us from doing our jobs and honoring our Constitution. We swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. That oath lasts a lifetime, and we intend to keep it. We will not be bullied. We will never give up the ship."

Sen. Mark Kelly's office said he "won’t be silenced" by attempts to intimidate him. Sen. Elissa Slotkin wrote that she would not let an FBI inquiry deter her from speaking up for the Constitution, and accused the president of weaponizing federal authorities against perceived political opponents.

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska publicly defended the lawmakers, calling accusations of treason and sedition "reckless and flat-out wrong" and urging the Pentagon and FBI to prioritize other matters.

Pentagon review and legal context

The Department of Defense announced it opened a separate review into Sen. Kelly, a retired Navy captain, saying that as a retired service member he remains subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted a memo directing the secretary of the Navy to report back by Dec. 10 on the outcome of that review.

Justice Department guidelines generally require internal approval before investigative steps are taken involving sitting members of Congress, to avoid the appearance of political targeting. Critics have noted that the DOJ's Public Integrity Section — traditionally a check on politically sensitive probes — has been significantly reduced in size, a change that could affect oversight of such investigations.

Free speech and constitutional protections

Legal observers point to constitutional protections that complicate any potential prosecution: the Speech or Debate Clause of Article I, Section 6, shields members of Congress from prosecution for legislative acts, reinforcing separation-of-powers safeguards. First Amendment considerations also surround public statements urging servicemembers to refuse illegal orders.

Next steps

Details about the scope and focus of the FBI inquiries have not been publicly disclosed, and an FBI spokesperson declined to comment. The situation is likely to produce further legal and political debate as the agencies complete their reviews and the lawmakers continue to speak publicly about the matter.