Slotkin says she’s target of investigation by federal prosecutors

BY JON KING, MICHIGAN ADVANCE

MICHIGAN—US Sen. Elissa Slotkin says she is the subject of a Justice Department investigation connected to a video in which she and several other Democratic lawmakers urged US military and intelligence personnel to refuse “illegal orders.”

The Michigan Democrat from Holly and former CIA officer, confirmed the inquiry in an interview with The New York Times published Tuesday, saying she learned of the investigation from the office of US Attorney Jeanine Pirro, the chief federal prosecutor in the District of Columbia. A spokesman for Pirro’s office declined to confirm or deny to the Times that any investigation was underway.

“I’ve studied this kind of political authoritarianism in other countries my entire professional life,” Slotkin told the Times. “I just can’t believe I am talking about it in my own country.”

Slotkin then followed up with a video response Wednesday, posted to social media.

“To be clear, this is the president’s playbook,” Slotkin said in reference to the investigation. “Truth doesn’t matter, facts don’t matter. And anyone who disagrees with him becomes an enemy, and he then weaponizes the federal government against them. It’s legal intimidation and physical intimidation meant to get you to shut up.”

Slotkin went on to say she did not believe Trump’s vision for the nation is shared by a majority of Americans.

“Because this country is worth fighting for. Our freedom of speech is worth fighting for. Our values, our core values, are worth fighting for. And right now, speaking out against the abuse of power is the most patriotic thing we can do,” Slotkin concluded.

The announcement of an investigation marks an escalation in the Trump administration’s response to a 90-second video posted to social media in November in which Slotkin and five other Democratic members of Congress—all with military or intelligence backgrounds—told members of the armed forces and intelligence community that they “can refuse illegal orders” and should “stand up for our laws and our Constitution.”

The lawmakers did not identify specific orders they considered unlawful in the clip. Military justice experts say service members are already required under the Uniform Code of Military Justice to disobey orders they reasonably determine to be unlawful.

The video drew immediate and intense criticism from President Donald Trump. He took to Truth Social to accuse the lawmakers of “seditious behavior” and urged that they be “arrested and put on trial,” later characterizing their actions as “punishable by death.” Trump’s posts also amplified threats from supporters.

In the weeks since the video’s release, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has contacted lawmakers who appeared in the video to schedule interviews, while a separate Pentagon review has focused on Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly.

Kelly, as a retired officer, is the only participant in the video still subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Kelly has since sued Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the department for trying to demote his retirement rank and pay.

Slotkin said the controversy has brought increased threats against her and her family, including a bomb threat at her Oakland County property in the days after the video’s release.

Meanwhile, Slotkin’s Democratic colleague, US Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham) issued a statement condemning the investigation.

“Elissa Slotkin is a patriot who has dedicated herself to serving our country,” Stevens said. “Reminding service members that they have a duty to refuse illegal orders is not sedition. It is a safeguard of democracy. Using law enforcement to retaliate against elected officials is dangerous and straight out of the authoritarian playbook. I stand with Senator Slotkin and with every public servant who honors their oath and fights to uphold the Constitution.”

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This coverage was republished from Michigan Advance pursuant to a Creative Commons license.