FBI probes Democrats who urged US troops to defy illegal orders

Six Democratic lawmakers who appeared in a social media video urging American military personnel to “defy illegal orders” have been requested by the FBI for interviews.

The Pentagon announced on Tuesday that it was reviewing Senator Mark Kelly, a veteran of the US Navy and one of the six lawmakers, for possible breaches of military law.

In a social media post, President Donald Trump claimed that the lawmakers are “punishable by DEATH” and that the offense is “punishable by DEATH.”

In the video, there are no less than six Democratic lawmakers who have served in either the intelligence or military.

One of the six in the video, Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, stated to reporters on Tuesday that the FBI’s counterterrorism division is “opening what appears to be an inquiry against the six of us.”

Slotkin referred to it as a “scare tactic” by Trump.

I’m just wondering if a president of the United States would be right to pursue and try to rig the federal government against those who disagree with the video. Slotkin remarked.

“Horror and intimidation”

The lawmakers claimed that US law was accurately reflected in their video statements. American troops swear an oath to the US Constitution, not the president, and must adhere to “any lawful general order or regulation,” as required by military law.

US Representatives Jason Crow, Maggie Goodlander, Chris Deluzio, and Chrissy Houlahan, all of whom are veterans, are the other Democrats in the video that was released last week.

The four House Democrats released a joint statement, claiming that “President Trump is using the FBI to intimidate and harass members of Congress.” The FBI contacted the House and Senate Sergeants-at-Arms yesterday to request interviews.

No amount of harassment or intimidation will ever prevent us from carrying out our duties and upholding our Constitution, they added.

Senator Kelly did not respond right away.

According to a Department of Justice official, the FBI interviews were intended to determine “if there is any wrongdoing, and then go from there.”

Kash Patel, a Trump appointee, is in charge of the FBI.

In a memo released on Tuesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed Kelly to the Navy’s secretary of the navy for “potentially unlawful comments” made in the video last week. By December 10th, Hegseth requested a brief on the review’s conclusions.

The FBI and the Pentagon’s inquiries, together, represent an extraordinary escalation for federal law enforcement and military installations, which have traditionally avoided political conflict. Even as they are members of Congress, they also highlight the administration’s willingness to impose legal restrictions on its critics.

“Frivolous investigation”

Republicans have also voiced criticism as a result of the inquiries.

Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska criticized both social media inquiries, saying it was “reckless and completely wrong” to accuse the lawmakers of treason and sedition for correctly pointing out that service members can refuse illegal orders.

According to Murkowski, “The Department of Defense and FBI certainly have more important priorities than this frivolous investigation.”

The FBI has not stated why they were seeking the interviews, despite the lawmakers’ claim that they have no further information.

In an interview with a journalist, Patel, the FBI director, explained why he was unable to provide specifics and described the bureau’s investigation as an “ongoing matter.”

When asked what he thought of the video, Patel responded, “What goes through my head is the same thing that goes through my head in any case: Is there a lawful predicate to launch an investigation and investigation, or is there not?” The FBI’s career agents and analysts will make that choice.

Legislators argued in the video that troops were needed to “stand up for our laws… our Constitution.” Kelly, who first retired as a captain and then transitioned to the position of fighter pilot, said that “you can refuse illegal orders.”

In the video, the lawmakers did not discuss specific circumstances.

Despite some legal issues, Slotkin criticized the Trump administration’s actions at an event in Michigan on Tuesday, citing the country’s continued efforts to deploy National Guard troops into US cities and its condemnation of small boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, which officials claim were used to transport drugs.

“It wasn’t just one incident; it was the sheer volume of people who came to us and said, “I’m worried,”,” he continued. I’m concerned that I’ll be asked to do something that I’m not sure if I should do because I’m currently being sent to LA or Chicago, North Carolina, or both, and I’m being sent to Washington, said Slotkin. “So that’s where it came from,” the statement read.

Troops are legally required to reject orders that are unlawful, especially those issued by uniformed commanders.

Source: Aljazeera