Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats are requesting the Justice Department and FBI hand over internal records related to six Democratic members of Congress with military and law enforcement backgrounds who filmed an anti-Trump video urging troops not to follow illegal orders.
It comes after some of the Democrats who appeared in the video disclosed late last month that the FBI had contacted the House and Senate sergeants at arms requesting voluntary interviews. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has separately requested a briefing by Dec. 10 of the review into the military record of one of the Democrats, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), a Navy veteran.
“We write with grave concern that the Trump Administration is weaponizing the Federal Bureau of Investigation against federal lawmakers who merely restated current law,” reads the letter, spearheaded by top Senate Judiciary Democrat Dick Durbin of Illinois and obtained first by POLITICO. “This abuse of federal law enforcement authority as an instrument of retribution against the President’s political opponents is a threat to the constitutional freedoms of all Americans.”
Senators added in the letter that it was “particularly alarming” that the FBI would reportedly push its domestic terrorism agents to open up a seditious conspiracy investigation into the six Democrats — two senators and four House members — who participated in the video message.
“It is facially unconstitutional to prosecute protected speech, whether that speech is by the American people or their representatives in Congress, and it is absurd to contend that statements reiterating the law alone are a predicate for a seditious conspiracy investigation,” the Judiciary Democrats wrote.
They added, “The Department of Justice’s resources would be better spent ensuring that the Department of Defense is following the law as it conducts military action.”
Durbin and his colleagues are requesting Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel hand over any documents or communications by Dec. 29, dating back to Nov. 18, between either of the two agencies and President Donald Trump or other White House officials relating to the six lawmakers’ statements.
They are also seeking any related documents or communications since Nov. 18 between the DOJ or FBI with the Washington Field Office or the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. They are additionally seeking any similar records between the FBI and Justice Department and the Department of Defense.
Spokespeople for the FBI and Justice Department didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
