FBI Launches Investigation into Congressional Democrats Following Trump’s Accusations
In a move stirring political tensions, the FBI has initiated a counterterrorism probe involving six Democratic members of Congress, including Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin. This action follows accusations by President Donald Trump, who has labeled their actions as “seditious behavior.” Slotkin confirmed the investigation, aligning it with prior warnings from the president.
The controversy arose after Slotkin and five other legislators, all with military or intelligence backgrounds, released a video emphasizing the rights of military personnel under the Uniform Military Code of Justice to refuse illegal orders. Trump’s reaction was swift, accusing them of sedition, a charge he underscored with the phrase “punishable by DEATH” on social media.
While the White House later clarified that President Trump has no intention of executing the members of Congress, it maintained that the video implied a call for troops to defy presidential commands. Slotkin, however, stood by their message, citing it as a response to Trump’s alleged misuse of governmental power against perceived adversaries.
“He [Trump] 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,” Slotkin stated. She added that if Trump chooses to engage the FBI and its director Kash Patel against them, it only reinforces their original intent behind the video.
The video was inspired by concerns from current military and intelligence personnel who feared being compelled to follow unlawful orders. Slotkin highlighted the volume of service members approaching them with these apprehensions, stating, “It was the sheer number of [military] people coming to us and saying ‘I’m worried, I’m being sent to [a major U.S. city], and I’m concerned I’m going to be asked to do something that I don’t know if I should do.’”
Additionally, Slotkin referred to the Trump administration’s military actions against alleged drug cartels, which she described as ambiguous due to their reliance on a classified legal justification not accessible to those executing the operations. This secrecy prompted some military operators to seek guidance, leading to the creation of the video.
The fallout from Trump’s sedition remarks has been severe, including a significant rise in death threats directed at the lawmakers involved and even a bomb threat at Slotkin’s residence. Despite these challenges, Slotkin expressed determination, stating, “I don’t think this represents who we are. And I refuse to believe that this is the new normal. I’m not going to accept that.”
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