Democrat legislators who urged US troops to ignore illegal commands are now reacting to what they call a government inquiry into their conduct.
Notification of Probe
Democratic Legislator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan stated that the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Monday informed the half-dozen lawmakers who appeared in last week's recording about the examination.
"Any attempt at pressure or targeting will ever prevent us from performing our duties and upholding our founding document," four US House members declared.
Presidential Reaction
Their statement to military members led to US President Trump to accuse the Democratic lawmakers of "seditious behavior, punishable by death" and triggered a Pentagon review of "serious allegations of improper behavior" against Democratic Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, who likewise participated in the recording.
The Department of Justice declined to comment on the alleged investigation.
Recording Details
The recording by Democrats, all of whom have worked in the military or intelligence community, was distributed last week by the Michigan senator and includes Kelly and US Representatives Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander, Chrissy Houlahan and Jason Crow.
The communication came amid escalating friction between the current administration and the Venezuelan government, as well as Democratic-controlled cities opposing Trump's deployment of National Guard troops to the area.
FBI Involvement
Slotkin said on the following day that the FBI's national security division sent a notification to the Congress members to inform them of an alleged investigation into the lawmakers.
"The President's reaction and the use of the Federal Bureau against us is exactly why we made the video," she stated at an event in her home state.
"He believes in employing the national government against his perceived adversaries, and he's not hesitant to utilize the arms of the government against people he disagrees with," she said, characterizing Trump's actions as "a scare tactic."
Legislative Response
Likewise, US representatives Deluzio, Goodlander, Houlahan and Crow said that the President is employing the Federal Bureau as "instrument to pressure and harass" legislators, verifying that the Federal Bureau reached out to the House and Senate Sergeants at Arms to request interviews.
"We swore an pledge to support and protect the Constitution of the United States of America. That commitment is permanent, and we intend to keep it. We won't be intimidated. We refuse to give up the ship," they declared.
Executive Response
The recording - in which Kelly accused the government of "pitting our armed forces and intelligence community professionals against the American people" - provoked Trump's anger and he suggested on social media that they be detained, imprisoned and hanged.
His comments drew cross-party censure and the chief executive eventually walked back his statements in a television appearance, explaining that he was "not threatening capital punishment."
Pentagon Action
On the start of the week, the Pentagon accused Senator Kelly, a former officer in the Navy and astronaut, of violating military law. The military leadership said it would conduct a review to determine whether the Arizona senator should be returned to military service to undergo military judicial process.
Although the senator retired from the military, he is nevertheless bound by the Uniform Code of Military Justice - a federal law established by the legislature in 1951 that subjects personnel of the armed forces to a unique system of regulations.
Defense Leader Comment
Military leader Pete Hegseth accused Kelly of breaking the military code and of employing his position and service affiliation as a way to lend "the impression of legitimacy to his words" in the recording.
He added that the senator's behavior "casts doubt upon the military and will be handled properly."
Legislator Kelly's
But Kelly also pushed back, stating that he has "devoted significant service to this country to be intimidated by bullies who care more about their own authority than protecting the founding document."
Reports suggested on the following day that the Federal Bureau and Department of Justice contacted Capitol Police to arrange interviews with the six legislators.
The FBI refused to provide statement on that day when approached by news organizations.
