Name: FBI probes Democrats over video urging troops to refuse illegal orders
Uploaded: 2025-11-26T00:42:13.066Z
Duration: 3 min 3 s
Description: The FBI has launched an inquiry into six Democratic lawmakers after President Trump accused them of “seditious behavior” for appearing in a video encouraging U.S. service members to refuse unlawful orders.

The FBI has launched an inquiry into six Democratic lawmakers after President Trump accused them of “seditious behavior” for appearing in a video encouraging U.S. service members to refuse unlawful orders.

Washington

The FBI has opened an inquiry into six Democratic members of Congress who posted a video urging military service members to refuse unlawful orders. The President called the video seditious and stated that sedition is punishable by death, though he later denied making a death threat against the lawmakers involved.

All six lawmakers, who are military or intelligence veterans, have reported receiving death threats following the President's comments. The FBI has informed Congressional leaders that it intends to interview each of the six members, while the White House and Defense Department have also launched separate probes. The inquiry does not necessarily indicate criminal charges, and the members have several legal defenses, including First Amendment protections.

FBI probes Democrats over video urging troops to refuse illegal orders

Good evening, I'm Maurice Dubois. I'm John Dickerson. Now the FBI is involved. The Bureau has opened an inquiry into six Democratic members of Congress. After they posted a video, the President called seditious. CBS News has learned the FBI is looking to question the six who, in that video, urged service members not to follow unlawful orders. They did not say whether they thought any unlawful orders had been given. The President noted that sedition is punishable by death, though he later denied he was making a death threat against Senators Kelly and Slotkin and Representatives Crow, DeLuzio, Goodlander, and Houlihan. But they say they are now getting death threats as a result of the President's comments. Justice Correspondent Scott McFarlane is following the story in Washington. Scott? Yeah, John, this is an escalating standoff between the President and a group of Congressional Democrats who are military veterans and who have been critical of the President. It began with a political debate. Now the FBI is involved. This 90-second-long video... Threats to our Constitution aren't just coming from abroad. ...has ignited a week of controversy and now an inquiry by the FBI into the six Democratic members of Congress who recorded it and who urged service members not to follow unlawful orders. You must refuse illegal orders. All six are veterans of the military or the intelligence community. CBS News has learned the FBI told Congressional Leaders Monday that the Bureau wants to speak with each of them. Michigan Senator Alyssa Slotkin is one. The President's reaction and the use of the FBI against us is exactly why we made the video. He believes in using the federal government against his perceived adversaries, and he's not afraid to use the arms of the government against people he disagrees with. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth launched a separate probe of Senator Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain, accusing Kelly of misconduct and threatening him with a court-martial. I'm not going to be silenced. I'm not going to be intimidated. Last week, President Trump accused the Democrats of seditious behavior, punishable by death. Each of the six say they've since been menaced by death threats. Colorado Democrat Jason Crowe released some audio of the calls. You deserve to die. I hope we all get murdered. White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt said the Democrats who recorded the video need to be held accountable. You can't have a functioning military if there is disorder and chaos within the ranks. So, Scott, this is an inquiry by the FBI. Could it lead to criminal cases here? And, Maurice, just because there's an inquiry doesn't mean somebody's the target of a criminal investigation, and these members of Congress have a number of defenses. And at the literal truth, military service members are to disregard unlawful orders, and they have First Amendment rights on steroids. They have a speech and debate clause protecting their speech uniquely. But, John and Maurice, just the inquiry itself has a cost. Financial, time, and energy for these six Democrats. Okay, Scott McFarlane in Washington. Thank you.

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