US Lawmakers Under Investigation for Warning Troops About Illegal Orders

Five US Legislators Under Investigation by Department of Justice

A video message released in November has led to an investigation by the Department of Justice into five United States legislators. The lawmakers, all Democrats and former military personnel, posted the video on social media calling on members of the US military and intelligence agencies to refuse to follow illegal orders.

The legislators, Senator Elissa Slotkin and US Representatives Jason Crow, Maggie Goodlander, Chrissy Houlahan, and Chris Deluzio, are being contacted by federal prosecutors as part of the investigation. The FBI has opened an inquiry into the five legislators, including Senator Mark Kelly, who also appeared in the video.

President Trump has accused the legislators of “seditious behaviour” in a post on his Truth Social platform. The Defense Department has announced it is investigating Kelly and warned that he could face a court-martial depending on the results.

Kelly has filed a lawsuit against the Defense Department and Secretary Pete Hegseth, alleging a campaign of “punitive retribution” that has trampled his free speech rights. Crow has stated that he and his colleagues are being targeted by the Justice Department for speaking out against what they believe is unconstitutional behavior by President Trump.

The investigation into the five legislators follows a series of actions taken by President Trump, including ordering air strikes on vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, and deploying the National Guard to major US cities. The Supreme Court has upheld a decision to block Trump’s deployment of the National Guard in Illinois due to insufficient evidence.

Source: Al Jazeera