FBI Targets Lawmakers Warning Military on Illegal Orders/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The FBI is seeking to interview six Democratic lawmakers who urged U.S. military personnel to disobey illegal orders. The move follows a controversial video and rising tensions between Congress and the Pentagon over recent military directives. President Trump has accused the lawmakers of sedition amid calls for military discipline.
FBI Investigation Into Lawmakers’ Military Warning Quick Looks
- FBI seeks interviews with six congressional Democrats, all military veterans.
- Lawmakers released a video urging troops to reject unlawful military orders.
- Pentagon threatened to recall Sen. Mark Kelly to active duty over remarks.
- President Trump accused lawmakers of sedition, punishable by death.
- Dispute centers on alleged illegal naval strikes ordered by the administration.
- Pentagon defends operations, calling drug traffickers “terrorists.”
- DOJ official says FBI is determining if wrongdoing occurred.
- Lawmakers dismiss investigation as intimidation.
FBI Targets Lawmakers Warning Military on Illegal Orders
Deep Look
The FBI has launched an inquiry into six Democratic lawmakers following a video they released last week, in which they called on military personnel to resist any unlawful commands. According to a Justice Department official, federal investigators are now requesting interviews with the legislators to evaluate whether any criminal or disciplinary actions are warranted.
The lawmakers—all of whom are veterans—include Senator Mark Kelly, Senator Elissa Slotkin, and Representatives Jason Crow, Maggie Goodlander, Chris Deluzio, and Chrissy Houlahan. Their message, which cautioned military members against following illegal orders, has sparked intense backlash from the Pentagon and the Trump administration.
In a stunning escalation, the Pentagon threatened to recall Senator Kelly, a Navy combat pilot, to active duty to potentially face military charges. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth called the video “seditious” and accused the lawmakers of inciting disobedience within the armed forces through public messaging on social media.
The central controversy revolves around military operations reportedly ordered by the Trump administration, targeting vessels in Latin American waters suspected of drug trafficking. Democratic lawmakers allege these operations lack legal authorization and could breach international or domestic laws. While these concerns are echoed quietly by some military leaders, the Pentagon maintains that the strikes are legal, arguing that the targets are designated as terrorists under existing U.S. law.
President Trump intensified the confrontation, labeling the lawmakers’ actions as “sedition” in a social media post and noting that the charge is punishable by death under federal law. His administration’s approach—leveraging federal law enforcement agencies against political opponents—has already drawn criticism for eroding traditional norms around the use of justice institutions.
The Justice Department official, speaking anonymously, stated that the FBI’s interviews are part of a fact-finding mission, meant to assess whether legal boundaries were crossed by the lawmakers involved. The FBI has not released an official statement in response to requests for comment.
Senator Mark Kelly, who served in the Navy before entering politics, responded forcefully. In a public statement, he dismissed the Pentagon’s actions as “purely intimidation,” designed to silence opposition to questionable military directives. “We swore an oath to defend the Constitution,” Kelly said. “Reminding service members of their legal duty is not a crime.”
This case represents a growing clash between executive authority, congressional oversight, and military autonomy, with deep constitutional implications. It also highlights rising tensions in Washington over how far elected officials can go in voicing concerns about military conduct, especially during an election season dominated by national security and rule-of-law debates.
The outcome of the FBI’s inquiry could set a precedent for how dissent within Congress—particularly when it involves public warnings to military personnel—is treated in the future. Legal analysts caution that the case could test the limits of free speech protections, especially when those statements intersect with national defense and military hierarchy.
With the public release of the video, and the administration’s severe response, this incident has moved beyond a political spat and into uncharted legal territory. As interviews are scheduled and the investigation unfolds, both supporters and critics of the lawmakers are watching closely.
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