Democratic lawmakers Accuse Trump of ‘Intimidation’ Tactic as FBI Requests Interviews
A group of Democratic lawmakers branded by Donald Trump as engaging in “subversive conduct” have claimed that the US leader is using the FBI to target them as a “instrument to pressure and threaten congressional representatives.”
The group of four politicians, along with two others, had produced a recorded message urging American troops to disobey unlawful orders – a statement that provoked Trump, who posted on online platforms that the group were “traitors” and thus might face imprisonment or even face the death penalty.
An announcement, issued by US representatives Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan, and the New Hampshire lawmaker, verified that the FBI had reached out to the House and Senate sergeants at arms requesting interviews with them.
“No amount of intimidation or harassment will ever stop us from doing our jobs and upholding the Constitution,” they said, noting that they had each sworn an oath “to support and defend” the US constitution.
“That commitment is permanent, and we intend to keep it. We will not be bullied. We will not surrender our principles,” they added.
The statement intensifies a dispute between the Trump administration and Democratic leaders, including Arizona senator and former astronaut Senator Kelly and Michigan congresswoman Elissa Slotkin, over the recorded appeal, which urged the military and intelligence services members to “refuse illegal orders.”
The Michigan lawmaker said the FBI’s counter-terrorism division had informed the lawmakers that “they are initiating what appears to be an investigation targeting the six individuals” and characterized the action as a “intimidation strategy” by Trump.
“Frankly, the president’s reaction and the deployment of the FBI to target us is precisely the reason we created the message,” she explained.
“He supports utilizing the federal government to oppose those he views as opponents, and he’s not afraid to use the government agencies to target dissenters. He does not believe the law applies to him … which is precisely the reason we produced the recording, to give people some assurance that they had support as they observe these events develop.”
The US Department of Defense 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 undergo a military trial.
