Slotkin reportedly under federal probe over controversial ‘illegal orders’ video

Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., is reportedly the subject of a federal investigation following a controversial video in which she and several other lawmakers encouraged service members to “reject illegal orders.”

Senator told New York Times He said he discovered that the investigation was initiated by the office of U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro.

The Times reported that Pirro’s office sent an email to the Senate sergeant-at-arms requesting an interview with Slotkin or his personal attorney. Slotkin reportedly described the investigation in a statement to the Times as an effort by an authoritarian president to use the federal government as a tool of intimidation.

“The facts don’t really matter, but the threat is pretty significant,” Slotkin told the Times. “Threat of legal action; threat to your family; threat to your staff; threat to you.”

ARIZONA YOU. AT THE END OF THE VIDEO MESSAGE, KELLY FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST HEGSETH DUE TO MILITARY PENSION CUTS

In the controversial video released in November, Slotkin, Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz.; Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa.; Rep. Maggie Goodlander, D.N.H.; Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa.; and Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo. All of the Democrats who participated in the video, which was criticized as a call to challenge President Donald Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, had military and intelligence backgrounds.

Trump harshly criticized the video and said in multiple posts on Truth Social that the lawmakers involved in the video engaged in “provocative behavior.”

The President wrote on November 20: “This is seditious behavior at the HIGHEST LEVEL. Each of these traitors who betrayed our country MUST be arrested and tried. Their words cannot be allowed to stand – We will not have a Country anymore! MUST set an example.”

SEN BLACKBURN RESPONSES TO DEMOCRATS OVER ‘Disturbing’ VIDEO Urging TROOPS TO DEFY ‘ILLEGAL’ Orders

That same day, Trump wrote in a separate Truth Social post: “AGAINST BEHAVIOR is punishable by DEATH!” This statement caused an uproar, with many criticizing what they perceived as a threat from the president.

The video was released amid a nationwide controversy over Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to several cities across the country.

Slotkin, a former CIA officer who served in Iraq, is the latest lawmaker on video to face investigation.

Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich.; You. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz.; Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa.; Rep. Maggie Goodlander, D.N.H.; Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa.; and Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., released a video directed at military and intelligence officials: “Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders.” (Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images; Mark Kelly; Elissa Slotkin; Congress)

HEGSETH IS TAKING ACTION TO CONDEMN SEN. MARK KELLY, REVIEW RETIREMENT RANKINGS AND PAY THROUGH ‘CONFLICT VIDEO’

Kelly, a retired Navy captain and astronaut, sued the War Department and Hegseth over the department’s actions to demote him and cut his pension over the video. The senator’s lawsuit said the Trump administration’s actions “trample on the Constitution’s protections for legislative independence.”

“It appears that never in our nation’s history has the Executive Branch imposed military sanctions on a Member of Congress for engaging in unwelcome political speech,” the lawsuit states. The statement is included.

The lawsuit states that the Pentagon’s actions “violate numerous constitutional protections and have no basis in law.”

A War Department official told Fox News Digital that the agency was aware of the lawsuit.

“However, as a matter of policy, the Ministry does not comment on ongoing litigation,” the official said.

Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., is seen at the Dirksen Senate Office Building. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)

Hegseth had previously moved to censure Kelly, saying earlier this month that he had instructed Navy Secretary John Phelan to review the retired Navy captain’s retirement rank and pay and recommend it within 45 days, sharply escalating an investigation that alleged he made “inflammatory statements” that undermined military operations.

Kelly said in a statement to

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION

Slotkin and Pirro’s offices did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Fox News Digital’s Bonny Chu and Lorraine Taylor contributed to this report.