Democratic legislators who encouraged US military personnel to disobey illegal orders are now reacting to what they describe as a federal investigation into their conduct.
Democrat Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan stated that the FBI on the start of the week notified the six lawmakers who were featured in recent video about the examination.
"No amount of pressure or targeting will ever stop us from doing our jobs and upholding our Constitution," several Congressional representatives stated.
Their message to military members prompted US President Trump to allege the Democratic lawmakers of "treasonous conduct, punishable by death" and triggered a Defense Department review of "significant claims of misconduct" against Democratic Legislator Mark Kelly of the state of Arizona, who likewise participated in the recording.
The Department of Justice refused to comment on the reported probe.
The video by Democratic officials, all of whom have served in the armed forces or intelligence community, was shared last week by the Michigan senator and features Senator Kelly and US Representatives Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander, Chrissy Houlahan and Jason Crow.
The message emerged amid increasing tensions between the current administration and the government of Venezuela, as well as Democratic-controlled municipalities opposing Trump's sending of National Guard troops to the area.
Slotkin said on Tuesday that the Federal Bureau of Investigation's counterterrorism unit delivered a note to the Congress members to notify them of an alleged investigation into the lawmakers.
"His reaction and the use of the FBI against us is exactly why we created the recording," she said at an event in Michigan.
"He thinks in employing the national government against his perceived adversaries, and he's not afraid to use the arms of the government against people he disagrees with," she said, characterizing Trump's actions as "intimidation."
Likewise, Congress members Deluzio, Goodlander, Houlahan and Crow said that the President is using the Federal Bureau as "tool to intimidate and harass" legislators, verifying that the Federal Bureau reached out to the Congressional security officials to arrange meetings.
"We took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. That commitment is permanent, and we plan to keep it. We won't be intimidated. We refuse to surrender our principles," they declared.
The recording - in which Kelly alleged the administration of "pitting our armed forces and security personnel against American citizens" - provoked the President's anger and he suggested on online platforms that they be detained, locked up and executed.
His comments received bipartisan condemnation and the chief executive ultimately retracted his remarks in a TV interview, explaining that he was "not advocating capital punishment."
On the start of the week, the Defense Department alleged the Arizona legislator, a previous captain in the US Navy and astronaut, of violating armed forces regulations. The military leadership announced it would conduct a examination to establish whether the Arizona lawmaker should be recalled to military service to face military judicial process.
Although Kelly left from the armed forces, he is nevertheless subject to the military legal code - a national legislation enacted by the legislature in 1951 that holds personnel of the military to a special set of regulations.
Military leader Pete Hegseth accused Kelly of breaking the military code and of employing his position and military background as a way to provide "the appearance of authority to his statements" in the video.
He added that the senator's behavior "brings discredit upon the military and will be handled appropriately."
But the Arizona senator likewise responded, stating that he has "given too much to this nation to be intimidated by bullies who prioritize their own power than protecting the founding document."
Reports suggested on the following day that the Federal Bureau and Justice Department reached out to Capitol Police to schedule meetings with the six legislators.
The FBI refused to provide statement on Tuesday when contacted by media outlets.
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