Democrats Allege Trump of ‘Intimidation’ Campaign as FBI Seeks Interviews
A collection of Democrat lawmakers branded by the president as engaging in “subversive conduct” have claimed that the US leader is employing the FBI to target them as a “tool to pressure and threaten congressional representatives.”
The four politicians, along with two others, had produced a recorded message encouraging American troops to disobey unlawful orders – a statement that provoked Trump, who wrote on social media that the individuals were “traitors” and thus might face imprisonment or even face the death penalty.
An announcement, released by congressional lawmakers the Colorado congressman, Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan, and Maggie Goodlander, confirmed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation had reached out to the House and Senate sergeants at arms requesting interviews with them.
“Regardless of any pressure or threats will ever prevent us from fulfilling our duties and honoring our constitution,” they stated, noting that they had each sworn an oath “to support and defend” the US constitution.
“That oath lasts a lifetime, and we intend to keep it. We will not be bullied. We will not surrender our principles,” they continued.
The declaration deepens a conflict between the Trump administration and Democratic leaders, including the senator from Arizona and former astronaut Senator Kelly and the Michigan representative Representative Slotkin, over the recorded appeal, which advised the military and intelligence services members to “disregard unlawful commands.”
The Michigan lawmaker said the FBI’s counter-terrorism division had notified the lawmakers that “they are initiating what appears to be 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 created the message,” she explained.
“He believes in using the federal government against his perceived adversaries, and he’s willing to employ the arms of the government to target dissenters. He fails to accept 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 watch this stuff unfold.”
The US Department of Defense has also said it is conducting a review of claims of improper behavior against Kelly that could, it said, result in him being recalled to active duty to undergo a military trial.