FBI and Justice Department officials have sought interviews with the veteran Democrats who implored military service members to “refuse illegal orders” in a controversial video last week, the lawmakers revealed.
The veteran Democrats accused the Trump administration of harassment and vowed that they wouldn’t be deterred after the FBI reached out to the House and Senate Sergeant at Arms for interviews with them.
“President Trump is using the FBI as a tool to intimidate and harass Members of Congress,” Reps. Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) and Jason Crow (D-Col.) said in a joint statement.
U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) looks on at a press conference calling for the release of the Epstein files, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., November 18, 2025. REUTERS
“No amount of intimidation or harassment will ever stop us from doing our jobs and honoring our Constitution,” they added. “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.”
Sens. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) also participated in the video, with the Arizonan confirming the FBI sought an interview with him as well.
On Monday, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon is looking into Kelly after the video message encouraging service members to disobey illegal orders.
Hegseth revealed that the other five veteran Democrats were not subject to the Department of War’s jurisdiction.
“Kelly’s conduct brings discredit upon the armed forces and will be addressed appropriately,” Hegseth said.
U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) listens to a question during a VoteVets town hall in Overland Park, Kansas, U.S., November 12, 2025. REUTERS
The FBI declined to comment when asked by The Post.
The controversial video drew immediate backlash from many of their GOP veteran colleagues in Congress and President Trump, who blasted it as “seditious behavior” that undermines the chain of command in the military.
None of the six Democrats in the video pointed to any illegal orders that service members should reject.
Hundreds of law enforcement officers were deployed in downtown Los Angeles along with are National Guard. Toby Canham for NY Post
“To my knowledge, I am not aware of things that are illegal,” Slotkin admitted over the weekend when pressed by ABC’s “This Week” about directives Trump gave to the military that broke the law.
Kelly, a retired Navy captain and NASA astronaut, stood by video, saying “I’ve given too much to this country to be silenced by bullies who care more about their own power than protecting the Constitution.”
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Trump had raged against the six Democrats and claimed that sedition is punishable by death.“It’s called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL,” Trump fumed on Truth Social last week.
“Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL. Their words cannot be allowed to stand – We won’t have a Country anymore!!! An example MUST BE SET.”
At one point, the president reposted “Hang them George Washington would.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has denied that the president wants the six Democrats dead.