FBI seeks interviews with Democrats who urged US troops to defy illegal orders - WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale

US Government Launches Investigation into Democratic Lawmakers Over Social Media Video Urging Troops to Defy 'Illegal Orders'

The FBI has reached out to several Democratic lawmakers featured in a social media video that urged US troops to defy "illegal orders," signaling a potential investigation into the matter. The development comes as President Donald Trump, who has accused the lawmakers of sedition, has shown a willingness to push the limits of federal law enforcement and military institutions.

In the video, which gained widespread attention on social media, six Democratic lawmakers urged troops to reject any orders that they deemed unlawful. The lawmakers, all with military or intelligence background, emphasized the importance of standing up for constitutional laws and honoring their duties.

The FBI's inquiry into the matter has raised concerns about the administration's willingness to target its critics, even if they are sitting members of Congress. "President Trump is using the FBI as a tool to intimidate and harass Members of Congress," said Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin in a statement.

Slotkin described the FBI's request for interviews with lawmakers as a "scare tactic" by Trump. The group of four Democratic House members has vowed that they will not be intimidated and continue doing their jobs, upholding their constitutional duties.

The investigation marks an extraordinary escalation into federal law enforcement and military institutions traditionally avoiding partisan clashes. It also highlights the administration's willingness to push the limits of its power against critics.

Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski criticized both inquiries on social media, saying that accusing the lawmakers "of treason and sedition for rightfully pointing out that servicemembers can refuse illegal orders is reckless and flat-out wrong."

The FBI has declined to comment on the matter, citing an "ongoing investigation." However, Director Kash Patel described it as such. The inquiry marks a significant development in the ongoing debate about the limits of executive authority and the rights of lawmakers.

In essence, the issue revolves around the constitutional duty of military personnel to refuse orders that are unlawful or immoral. While the video's authors aimed to emphasize this duty, Trump has accused them of sedition, sparking a heated national debate about the limits of free speech and the role of government in policing its critics.

I'm literally shaking my head over here... Can you believe the US President is trying to bully these lawmakers into silence?! Like, what's next? They're going after activists too now? The whole thing just reeks of a power grab and a total disregard for democracy. Those six Democratic lawmakers have every right to stand up for their constitutional duties and speak out against orders they know are wrong. It's not treason, it's patriotism! And now the FBI is getting involved, which is just ridiculous. This is exactly what we should be afraid of - an administration that thinks it can use its power to silence dissenting voices. Newsflash, Trump: your presidency isn't above the law!

I'm low-key worried about where this is headed... like, who gets intimidated next? It's already happening with these lawmakers, but what about others who speak out against the administration? The whole thing feels super fishy to me. President Trump's just trying to silence people he doesn't agree with, and it's getting ridiculous . We need more transparency and less "fear-mongering" from our leaders . Can we please just focus on doing the people's job instead of playing politics?

omg what's going on with trump now he's trying to use the FBI as some kinda tool to scare congress people into shutting up but it's not gonna work lol those 4 dem lawmakers are like "nah, we're good" and they'll just keep doing their thing regardless of what trump throws at them meanwhile i'm over here designing a new layout for my website and wondering how the FBI is supposed to investigate social media vids that aren't even on gov servers

OMG u guys can't even imagine whats gonna happen now. They're basically saying that anyone who speaks out against trump is a traitor . Like what even is that? The fact that they're investigating these lawmakers for just doing their job and speaking up about something thats super important to them is totally unacceptable . And what really gets me is that the fbi is being used as like a tool by trump to silence his critics . It's so sad to see our country going down this path where ppl are getting bullied and intimidated for just doing whats right . I'm all about free speech and expressing ur opinions, even if u disagree with the gov . This is like total censorship and we need to speak out against it ASAP

I'm getting so sick of these politicians using social media to vent their frustrations... Like, can't they just do their jobs already? And now the FBI is investigating them for allegedly defying "illegal orders" Which, btw, isn't even a thing. It's all just a bunch of hot air and power struggles between Trump and his critics.

I mean, come on, can we not have some civility in our politics for once? All this back-and-forth is just giving people like me anxiety . And what's with the FBI being used as a tool to intimidate and harass Congress members? That's just messed up .

This whole thing is getting outta hand . I mean, come on, six Dem lawmakers with military or intel background just saying what's gonna happen if they get orders that don't align w/ their consciences? That's not sedition, that's basic patriotism . And now Trump is using the FBI to silence them? It smells like a classic case of silencing dissenting voices and pushing the limits of executive power . What's next? Investigating other lawmakers for speaking out against policy changes? This whole thing needs to be taken seriously, but also held up to scrutiny

This is getting weird. FBI going after congressmen for doing their job? It's like they're more scared of being called out than actual threats to national security. And what's with all these investigations and accusations of treason? Can't we just have a respectful debate without the government trying to silence us?

I'm telling you, this whole thing is fishy ! The FBI is just trying to silence these Democratic lawmakers because they're not afraid to speak truth to power . I mean, come on, if the lawmakers are being accused of sedition, that's like saying someone who stands up for their rights is a traitor . It's outrageous! And what really gets me is that President Trump is using the FBI as a tool to intimidate and harass them . Elissa Slotkin said it best, this is just a scare tactic by Trump . The fact that they're investigating these lawmakers over a social media video that was meant to highlight their constitutional duty is a clear attempt to silence dissenting voices . And don't even get me started on Lisa Murkowski's criticism of the accusations – she's basically saying that Trump is being reckless and flat-out wrong . Mark my words, this whole thing is going to backfire on Trump .

I think the FBI should be looking into President Trump for making false accusations against those lawmakers . I mean come on, accusing people of treason just because they're doing their job is super suspect . It's like he's trying to silence dissenting voices and stifle free speech . The fact that Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski is speaking out against this whole ordeal shows she's got some backbone . And what's with the FBI using "scare tactics" as a reason for not commenting on the investigation? Sounds like they're just trying to cover up something . Anyway, I think the Democratic lawmakers were totally justified in making that video and speaking out against what could be seen as an abuse of power .

I'm getting a bit worried about where this is headed . It seems like we're living in uncertain times when even lawmakers with a military background are being scrutinized for exercising their constitutional rights . I've seen my fair share of controversy over the years, but this one feels different – it's not just about free speech or dissent; it's about whether our elected officials can serve without fear of retribution .

I do appreciate those four Democratic House members standing up to the FBI and refusing to back down . We need more voices like theirs in Washington who aren't afraid to challenge the status quo . As for President Trump, I just wish he'd focus on getting things done instead of trying to silence his critics . It's time we have a rational discussion about these issues rather than resorting to intimidation and scare tactics .

idk why trump is getting all bent outta shape about these lawmakers urging troops to do their jobs . they're just speaking truth to power and trying to uphold some semblance of integrity in gov . it's not like they're calling for a coup or anything... yet . and honestly, if the fbi is gonna investigate them, that just shows how far trump's willing to push his luck . newsflash: you can't silence people who are actually trying to do what's right!

I'm like totally confused about this ... I mean, if these lawmakers are just saying what's right and standing up for the Constitution, why is Trump being all shady about it? It seems to me that he's trying to intimidate them into shutting up, but honestly, I don't think that's going to work . The fact that some Republican senator is speaking out against this too, like Lisa Murkowski, shows that there are still some decent people on the other side of the aisle . But at the same time, I'm also worried about the FBI getting involved and potentially making things even more heated ... what's going on here?

I'm low-key concerned about where this is all going... The whole thing feels like overkill, you know? Like, they're using the FBI to chill out these lawmakers because Trump is getting salty . Newsflash: Congress isn't trying to harm anyone, they're just doing their job and pushing back against some questionable orders. And honestly, can we talk about how this investigation is gonna affect the military's morale? It's already a big deal that some lawmakers are questioning orders, but now it feels like the administration is taking a hardline stance...

It's scary when power gets used as a tool to silence critics. This is exactly what happens when we allow fear to dictate our actions. We need to remember that being an active citizen means speaking up, even if it makes us uncomfortable. The fact that these lawmakers are willing to stand by their values despite the backlash says a lot about their character. It's also important to recognize that just because someone disagrees with your views doesn't mean they're "treasonous" or trying to harm you. We should strive for open and respectful dialogue, not try to stifle it with threats of investigation or intimidation.