Two Democratic members of Congress, Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) and Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), have publicly refused to cooperate with a Justice Department investigation regarding a video they participated in urging military and intelligence personnel to disobey illegal orders. Their defiance escalates an already charged political atmosphere surrounding the Trump administration’s response to the video.
Slotkin announced on Thursday that she sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro stating she would not comply with requests for interviews or other inquiries related to the video. She characterized the Justice Department’s actions as “physical and legal intimidation” intended to silence critics of the administration. “The intimidation is the point, and I’m not going to go along with that,” Slotkin said.
Similarly, Houlahan declared her refusal to participate in a voluntary interview requested by the DOJ, describing the probe as a misuse of federal power aimed at intimidating public officials who speak out. Both lawmakers expressed concerns about threats they have faced following the video’s release.
The video, posted in November, featured six members of Congress—all veterans or former intelligence personnel—calling on military members to refuse unlawful commands. It immediately drew sharp condemnation from former President Donald Trump, who labeled the lawmakers’ actions as “seditious behavior” and suggested the consequences could be severe, even “punishable by death.” Trump later softened his rhetoric but maintained a menacing tone.
In response to the video, federal prosecutors contacted several lawmakers involved, including Reps. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) and Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H.). Crow publicly accused Trump of leveraging his political appointees to harass members of Congress. Goodlander described the targeting of lawmakers for their constitutional duties as dangerous and unbecoming of a justice system.
The U.S. attorney’s office for Washington, D.C., responsible for the investigation, declined to comment, and the Justice Department has yet to issue a public statement. Meanwhile, Slotkin’s letter requested that officials preserve all related records, hinting at the possibility of future legal action to defend her constitutional rights.
The backlash has extended beyond Capitol Hill. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth led efforts to censure Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), the only retired service member featured in the video, by attempting to reduce his retirement rank. Kelly has responded by suing the Defense Department, calling the disciplinary measures “unlawful and unconstitutional.”
The ongoing dispute highlights deep divisions over military obedience, political accountability, and the limits of federal power. As Democrats push back against what they view as intimidation tactics, the Justice Department’s investigation continues to raise critical questions about the balance between national security, free speech, and political retaliation in an increasingly polarized America.
