Democratic lawmakers Accuse Trump of ‘Harassment’ Tactic as FBI Requests Interviews
A group of Democrat lawmakers branded by the president as engaging in “subversive conduct” have claimed that the president is using the FBI against them as a “instrument to pressure and threaten congressional representatives.”
The four elected officials, along with two additional members, had produced a recorded message urging US military service members to disobey illegal commands – a statement that angered Trump, who posted on online platforms that the individuals were “disloyal citizens” and thus might face imprisonment or even be subject to capital punishment.
A statement, issued by congressional lawmakers Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan, and Maggie Goodlander, verified that the FBI had reached out to the House and Senate sergeants at arms seeking interviews with them.
“Regardless of any pressure or threats will ever stop us from doing our jobs and upholding the Constitution,” they stated, noting that they had each sworn an oath “to uphold and protect” the Constitution of the United States.
“That oath lasts a lifetime, and we intend to keep it. We refuse to be intimidated. We will not surrender our principles,” they continued.
The statement intensifies a conflict between the Trump administration and Democratic leaders, such as Arizona senator and former astronaut Mark Kelly and Michigan congresswoman Elissa Slotkin, over the recorded appeal, which advised the military and intelligence services members to “refuse illegal orders.”
Slotkin said the FBI’s counter-terrorism division had informed the lawmakers that “they are opening what seems like an investigation against the six of us” and characterized the move as a “scare tactic” by Trump.
“To be honest, the president’s reaction and the use of the FBI against us is precisely the reason we created the message,” she said.
“He supports utilizing the federal government against his perceived adversaries, and he’s not afraid to use the government agencies against people he disagrees with. He fails to accept the law applies to him … which is exactly why we produced the recording, to give people some assurance that they weren’t alone as they observe these events develop.”
The Pentagon has also said it is performing an examination of claims of improper behavior against Kelly that could, it indicated, lead to his return to military service to face court-martial proceedings.
