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By Hollie Silverman and Dan Gooding
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A group of Democratic lawmakers who made a video encouraging service members to disobey orders they deem illegal will be interviewed with the assistance of the Capitol Police at the direction of the FBI and the Department of Justice, according to a Fox News report.
The group includes Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, Pennsylvania Representatives Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan, New Hampshire Representative Maggie Goodlander, and Colorado Representative Jason Crow.
The Democrats released a video last week saying in part, "Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders."
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President Donald Trump responded to the video by calling for the lawmakers' arrests and labeling their conduct "seditious."
"THE TRAITORS THAT TOLD THE MILITARY TO DISOBEY MY ORDERS SHOULD BE IN JAIL RIGHT NOW, NOT ROAMING THE FAKE NEWS NETWORKS TRYING TO EXPLAIN THAT WHAT THEY SAID WAS OK," Trump said in a post on Truth Social Saturday.
The U.S. Capitol Police deferred to the FBI, which declined to comment when Newsweek reached out on Tuesday morning. The DOJ has not yet commented.
Why It Matters
The investigations would spark an escalation in the Trump administration's retaliation against the group, after the president and top officials said their video was seditious in nature. The Democrats in question, all with military and intelligence backgrounds, have argued they were stating that those still serving in these fields were bound by the Constitution and U.S. law.
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What To Know
According to Fox News, the FBI and DOJ contacted the U.S. Capitol Police to assist with scheduling interviews with the six lawmakers.
Investigations into lawmakers are not uncommon, but they are often prompted by allegations of corruption, such as misuse of campaign funds, rather than by something lawmakers have said publicly. Interviews are common, as part of wider inquiries, but there are rules and approval processes officials are supposed to follow.
The news followed an announcement by the Department of Defense on Monday that it was opening an investigation into Kelly, as he was the only one under the Pentagon's jurisdiction. The DOD said it was looking into whether Kelly had broken military law by urging military personnel not to follow certain orders.
Kelly, a former Navy fighter pilot who later became a NASA astronaut, retired as a captain. It is highly unusual for the Pentagon, long known for publicly avoiding partisan disputes before the second Trump administration, to signal possible legal action toward a sitting member of Congress.
In its statement, the DOD suggested Kelly’s remarks could have affected the “loyalty, morale, or good order and discipline of the armed forces,” citing a federal law that prohibits efforts to undermine those standards.
The other five lawmakers served the U.S. in some capacity before their time in Congress and have used this background to reach those still working under the Trump administration's DOD and DOJ. In doing so, they sparked anger from Trump and senior officials, who said the group was encouraging chaos among those who are meant to serve the commander-in-chief—i.e., Trump.
Five out of the six received bomb threats at the end of last week, but the group said they remained firm in what they had said.
What People Are Saying
Senator Elissa Slotkin posted on X Tuesday: "The President directing the FBI to target us is exactly why we made this video in the first place. He believes in weaponizing the federal government against his perceived enemies and does not believe laws apply to him or his Cabinet. He uses legal harassment as an intimidation tactic to scare people out of speaking up. This isn’t just about a video. This is not the America I know, and I’m not going to let this next step from the FBI stop me from speaking up for my country and our Constitution."
Senator Mark Kelly, on X Monday evening: "Donald Trump can try to intimidate me, but it’s not going to work. My job is to defend the Constitution and hold any president accountable."
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, on X Monday: "The video made by the 'Seditious Six' was despicable, reckless, and false. Encouraging our warriors to ignore the orders of their Commanders undermines every aspect of 'good order and discipline.' Their foolish screed sows doubt and confusion — which only puts our warriors in danger."
The Department of Defense posted Monday on X: "All servicemembers are reminded that they have a legal obligation under the UCMJ to obey lawful orders and that orders are presumed to be lawful. A servicemember’s personal philosophy does not justify or excuse the disobedience of an otherwise lawful order."
What Happens Next
An official announcement from the DOJ or FBI is yet to be made.
Update 11/25/25, 12:19 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update 11/25/25, 3:57 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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