Slotkin Defies DOJ Request Over ‘Illegal Orders’ Military Video/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Sen. Elissa Slotkin is refusing to voluntarily cooperate with a Justice Department investigation into a video urging U.S. troops to reject unlawful orders. The video, criticized by Trump and his allies, has sparked a political and legal battle. Slotkin says she won’t stay silent and is ready for a fight.
Slotkin DOJ Standoff: Quick Looks
- Sen. Elissa Slotkin declines DOJ and FBI interview over 2025 military video
- Video urged U.S. troops to disobey illegal orders, criticized Trump administration
- Trump accused lawmakers in the video of sedition, escalating political tension
- Slotkin’s legal team demands DOJ halt probe, citing constitutional concerns
- Security threats followed video release, including bomb and swatting threats
- Other lawmakers involved, including Sen. Mark Kelly, also pushing back
- Slotkin is considering litigation and may defy any subpoena
- She’s seen as a rising national Democratic figure heading into 2028
Deep Look: Slotkin Defies DOJ Request Over ‘Illegal Orders’ Military Video
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan has formally rejected a Justice Department request for a voluntary interview related to a video she helped organize, which encouraged U.S. military personnel to disobey any unlawful orders. The move elevates a standoff that has become deeply politicized, with former President Donald Trump calling the video “sedition.”
Slotkin, a former CIA analyst and U.S. representative, joined five other Democratic lawmakers in November 2025 to release a 90-second video urging service members to uphold military protocols and resist any illegal directives. The video accused the Trump administration of weaponizing the military and intelligence community against civilians. It quickly became a lightning rod for controversy.
Trump, running for re-election at the time, responded by labeling the lawmakers traitors and publicly claimed the video’s actions were “punishable by death.” Federal investigators, including the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, soon reached out to the participants requesting interviews.
Slotkin’s attorney, Preet Bharara, informed U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and Attorney General Pam Bondi that Slotkin would not voluntarily comply. In separate letters obtained by the Associated Press, Bharara called for an immediate end to the investigation and demanded that all related documents be preserved for potential legal action.
“I did this to go on offense,” Slotkin told the AP. “This won’t stop unless I push back.”
Slotkin said she initially considered staying quiet after legal advisors encouraged her to avoid drawing more attention. But threats to her family changed her mind. Her Michigan farm received a bomb threat, her brother was given a police escort, and her elderly parents were “swatted” at night. Her father, then terminally ill with cancer, had to deal with law enforcement in his final days.
“A switch flipped in me,” Slotkin said. “If I’m asking others to stand up, I have to take the risk myself.”
Slotkin’s firm stance may force the DOJ’s hand. With no voluntary cooperation, officials must decide whether to pursue subpoenas or back down from investigating sitting members of Congress.
The DOJ has not yet made any criminal allegations, and the inquiry remains at a preliminary stage. However, Slotkin’s legal team has made clear that any escalation could be met with litigation.
“All options are most definitely on the table,” she said. Asked if she would honor a subpoena, she paused: “I’d take a hard look at it.”
Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, a fellow video participant and former Navy pilot, has already sued the Pentagon after it launched a probe into his involvement. A federal judge recently noted the lack of Supreme Court precedent allowing punishment for such political speech, casting doubt on the government’s position.
Slotkin wouldn’t say how the other lawmakers plan to respond but confirmed she’s in contact with them. Her stand is not just about legal defense—it’s also strategic.
Trump’s attacks have often inadvertently elevated his targets. Sen. Kelly raised over $12.5 million in the months following the video controversy, according to campaign records. Slotkin, who flipped a Michigan Senate seat in 2024 despite Trump winning the state, is now viewed as a potential 2028 presidential contender.
She has embraced the spotlight and urged Democrats to fight harder. In 2025, she delivered the official Democratic response to Trump’s address to Congress and has criticized her party for lacking “alpha energy.” Recently, she urged fellow Democrats to “go nuclear” against Trump’s redistricting efforts.
With a growing national profile and a defiant tone, Slotkin appears intent on turning this confrontation with the Justice Department into a rallying cry.
“We’re not going to lay down and take it,” she said. “I want to show people we’re willing to fight.”
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