Democratic lawmakers Accuse Trump of ‘Intimidation’ Tactic as FBI Seeks Meetings
A group of Democrat politicians labeled by Donald Trump as involved in “seditious behavior” have asserted that the president is employing the FBI to target them as a “tool to pressure and threaten congressional representatives.”
The four politicians, together with two additional members, had created a video encouraging American troops to resist unlawful orders – a message that provoked Trump, who posted on social media that the individuals were “disloyal citizens” and thus might face imprisonment or even face the death penalty.
An announcement, released by US representatives Jason Crow, the Pennsylvania representatives, and the New Hampshire lawmaker, verified that the FBI had contacted the Congressional security officials seeking interviews with them.
“No amount of intimidation or harassment will ever prevent us from fulfilling our duties and upholding the Constitution,” they stated, adding that they had each sworn an oath “to support and defend” the Constitution of the United States.
“That commitment is permanent, and we intend to keep it. We refuse to be intimidated. We will never give up the ship,” they continued.
The declaration intensifies a dispute between the president’s team and Democratic leaders, such as the senator from Arizona and former astronaut Mark Kelly and Michigan congresswoman Representative Slotkin, over the recorded appeal, which advised the armed forces and intelligence personnel to “refuse illegal orders.”
The Michigan lawmaker said the FBI’s counter-terrorism division had notified the group that “they are opening what seems like an investigation targeting the six individuals” and described the move as a “scare tactic” by Trump.
“Frankly, the leader’s response and the deployment of the FBI to target us is exactly why we made the video,” 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 fails to accept the rules govern his actions … which is exactly why we made the video, to give people some assurance that they had support as they observe these events develop.”
The Pentagon has also said it is conducting a review of misconduct allegations involving the senator that might, it said, lead to his return to military service to face court-martial proceedings.