Democratic legislators who urged US troops to ignore unlawful orders are now responding to what they call a government investigation into their actions.
Notification of Investigation
Democrat Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan announced that the FBI on Monday notified the half-dozen congressional members who were featured in last week's video about the examination.
"No amount of pressure or targeting will ever stop us from performing our duties and upholding our founding document," four US House members declared.
Presidential Response
Their message to military members led to US President Trump to allege the Democrats of "treasonous conduct, punishable by death" and initiated a Defense Department review of "significant claims of improper behavior" against Democratic Legislator Mark Kelly of Arizona, who likewise participated in the recording.
The Justice Department refused to provide statement on the reported investigation.
Video Details
The recording by Democrats, each of whom have served in the armed forces or national security sector, was distributed last week by the Michigan senator and features Kelly and Congress members Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander, Chrissy Houlahan and Jason Crow.
The communication came amid escalating tensions between the Trump administration and the government of Venezuela, as well as Democrat-led cities opposing Trump's sending of National Guard troops to the region.
FBI Involvement
Slotkin said on Tuesday that the Federal Bureau of Investigation's national security division delivered a note to the Congress members to notify them of an alleged inquiry into the lawmakers.
"His response and the use of the FBI against us is exactly why we created the video," she stated at an event in her home state.
"He thinks in using the national government against his imagined opponents, and he's not hesitant to utilize the arms of the government against people he disagrees with," she commented, characterizing Trump's actions as "intimidation."
Legislative Reaction
Similarly, Congress members Deluzio, Goodlander, Houlahan and Crow asserted that Trump is employing the FBI as "tool to pressure and target" members of Congress, verifying that the FBI reached out to the Congressional security officials to request meetings.
"We swore an oath to support and defend the founding document of the United States of America. That oath lasts a lifetime, and we intend to honor it. We won't be intimidated. We will never surrender our principles," they declared.
Presidential Response
The recording - in which Kelly accused the government of "pitting our armed forces and security professionals against the American people" - provoked Trump's ire and he implied on online platforms that they be detained, locked up and hanged.
His words received bipartisan condemnation and the chief executive eventually walked back his statements in a TV interview, clarifying that he was "not threatening death."
Pentagon Action
On the start of the week, the Defense Department alleged Senator Kelly, a previous officer in the Navy and astronaut, of violating military law. The military leadership said it would conduct a examination to establish whether the Arizona lawmaker should be recalled to active duty to undergo court-martial proceedings.
Even though the senator left from the military, he is nevertheless bound by the Uniform Code of Military Justice - a federal law enacted by the legislature in 1951 that subjects personnel of the armed forces to a special set of regulations.
Defense Secretary Statement
Defence secretary Pete Hegseth accused Kelly of breaking the military code and of using his position and military background as a way to provide "the impression of legitimacy to his statements" in the recording.
He added that the senator's conduct "brings discredit upon the military and will be addressed properly."
Legislator Response
But Kelly likewise pushed back, stating that he has "devoted significant service to this country to be silenced by bullies who prioritize their own authority than protecting the Constitution."
Accounts suggested on Tuesday that the Federal Bureau and Justice Department contacted Congressional security to schedule meetings with the half-dozen members of Congress.
The FBI refused to comment on that day when contacted by news organizations.
