Trump Administration Investigates Sen. Slotkin Over Troop Video/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Senator Elissa Slotkin is under investigation after appearing in a Democratic video advising troops to reject illegal orders. The Trump administration calls the video seditious, sparking a Justice Department probe. Slotkin accuses Trump of weaponizing the government against political opponents.
Slotkin Video Investigation Quick Looks
- Sen. Elissa Slotkin confirms federal investigation over troop-directed video
- DOJ prosecutors, led by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, contacted Slotkin for interview
- Democrats in the video urged military to resist unlawful commands
- Trump labeled the video “seditious” and “punishable by death”
- Slotkin accuses Trump of legal intimidation for political dissent
- Other lawmakers in video include Reps. Crow, Deluzio, Houlahan, and Sen. Mark Kelly
- Defense Secretary Hegseth censures Kelly, seeks retroactive demotion
- Slotkin was a standout Democratic win in 2024 Michigan Senate race
Trump Administration Investigates Sen. Slotkin Over Troop Video
Deep Look
WASHINGTON (AP) — Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin is facing a federal investigation by the Trump administration after she and several other Democratic lawmakers appeared in a video encouraging military personnel to resist any unlawful orders. The 90-second video, originally posted on Slotkin’s X account in November, has since drawn sharp criticism from President Donald Trump and his allies, who have labeled it “seditious.”
In a video statement released Wednesday, Slotkin revealed that the Justice Department, under the leadership of U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro in Washington, D.C., reached out last week requesting an interview with her in connection to the video. Pirro, a high-profile Trump ally, has not confirmed or denied the existence of an investigation, but Slotkin was first to publicly disclose the contact, initially through an interview with The New York Times.
“This is the president’s playbook. Truth doesn’t matter. Facts don’t matter. And anyone who disagrees with him becomes an enemy,” Slotkin stated. “And he then weaponizes the federal government against them. It’s legal intimidation and physical intimidation meant to get you to shut up.”
The video in question features Slotkin and other lawmakers with military and national security backgrounds urging service members to uphold the rule of law and established military protocol. While they stop short of naming Trump, their message was widely interpreted as a preemptive warning about the possibility of illegal military orders during a second Trump term.
Slotkin, a former CIA analyst, is now under greater scrutiny as Pirro’s involvement suggests the case is escalating within federal circles. Although the exact statutes under review remain unclear, Trump took to social media last year to label the video “seditious” and declared it “punishable by death.”
The video also featured several prominent Democratic lawmakers, including Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, a retired Navy pilot and astronaut. In a retaliatory move, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has attempted to retroactively demote Kelly from his retired military rank of captain. Kelly has filed a lawsuit to block the demotion, calling the move unconstitutional and politically motivated.
Other participants in the video included Representatives Jason Crow of Colorado, Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania. It remains unclear if Pirro’s office or other divisions of the Justice Department plan to pursue further legal action against them. The FBI has already contacted the individuals involved to schedule interviews, according to earlier reports.
The lawmakers maintain they acted well within their rights and responsibilities, emphasizing that their message was grounded in constitutional norms and military ethics.
“We were reminding service members to do what they’re trained to do: follow the law,” said one unnamed official familiar with the video’s production.
The investigation adds to an increasingly contentious political environment in Washington, where critics say Trump is using federal agencies to retaliate against perceived enemies. Slotkin, in particular, has emerged as a key Democratic figure. In 2024, she won Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat — a rare Democratic victory in a state that backed Trump for president that same year.
Her profile continued to rise after she was selected to deliver the Democratic response to Trump’s 2025 address to Congress, positioning her as a prominent voice in the party’s national security and defense policy circles.
Legal scholars say the case could break new ground. “We are entering a space where public speech by lawmakers, especially around military conduct, is being interpreted through a criminal lens,” said one constitutional expert. “It’s highly unusual and could raise serious First Amendment issues.”
Despite mounting pressure, Slotkin says she will not be silenced.
“You don’t intimidate me into abandoning the rule of law,” she said in her latest statement.
“This is exactly why we must keep speaking out.”
As the investigation unfolds, it may test the boundaries of free speech, civilian oversight of the military, and the extent of presidential power during a politically fraught time.
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