Michigan Democrat Elissa Slotkin confirmed she is under federal scrutiny after participating in a video telling service members they could refuse “illegal orders,” prompting an inquiry from the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Sen. Elissa Slotkin said federal prosecutors are investigating her following her participation in a video that urged members of the U.S. military to resist what she described as illegal orders from President Donald Trump.
Slotkin, a Democrat from Michigan and a former CIA analyst, disclosed the investigation in an interview with The New York Times. According to the report, she learned of the inquiry after the office of Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, contacted the Senate’s sergeant-at-arms seeking an interview with Slotkin or her private counsel.
A spokesman for Pirro’s office declined to confirm or deny the existence of an investigation, and the specific potential criminal violation under review was not identified, according to the Times.
In November, Slotkin helped organize and appeared in a viral video alongside Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Democratic Reps. Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, Jason Crow of Colorado, Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania, and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania. In the video, the lawmakers repeatedly stated phrases such as “You can refuse illegal orders” and “You must refuse illegal orders,” without citing specific directives.
A post by The New York Times on X reported Wednesday that Slotkin said federal prosecutors were investigating her after she urged service members to resist illegal orders.
The video drew sharp criticism from conservatives and Trump allies, including a widely circulated post from Libs of TikTok that accused the lawmakers of encouraging defiance within the military.
President Trump responded publicly to the video, characterizing the lawmakers’ actions as “seditious behavior, punishable by death,” according to prior statements cited in coverage of the controversy.
The New York Times reported that Pirro is spearheading the inquiry into Slotkin’s role in the video. The investigation comes amid broader tensions between the Trump administration and Democratic lawmakers over military policy and civilian control of the armed forces.
Last week, Pete Hegseth, the secretary of war, announced disciplinary action against Kelly, saying the administration was stripping him of his military rank and pension following his participation in the same video.
Slotkin criticized the administration’s actions in a statement to The New York Times, framing the investigation as part of a broader effort to intimidate political opponents.
“Facts matter little, but the threat matters quite a bit,” Slotkin said. “The threat of legal action; the threat to your family; the threat to your staff; the threat to you.”
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