Democratic lawmakers say FBI requested interviews after they urged troops to refuse illegal orders, calling it presidential intimidation tactics.
WASHINGTON: Democratic lawmakers accused Donald Trump on Tuesday of using the FBI to intimidate members of Congress.
The legislators said the law enforcement agency requested interviews following their criticism of the president.
They were among six Democrats who this month called on military and intelligence personnel to refuse any illegal orders by Trump.
The president had labeled them traitors for their public stance.
Representatives Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander and Chrissy Houlahan released a joint statement condemning the actions.
“President Trump is using the FBI as a tool to intimidate and harass Members of Congress,” their statement said.
They confirmed the FBI contacted House and Senate Sergeants at Arms requesting interviews yesterday.
“No amount of intimidation or harassment will ever stop us from doing our jobs and honoring our Constitution,” they added.
The FBI declined to comment when reached by email.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Meanwhile, the US military said Monday it was weighing a court-martial against Democratic senator Mark Kelly.
Kelly had appeared in the same video urging troops to refuse unlawful orders.
The decorated Navy combat pilot and former astronaut fired back that he would not be intimidated.
Kelly vowed he would not be silenced by bullies despite the military’s actions.
Senator Elissa Slotkin, another video participant, said the FBI appeared to open an inquiry into her.
She posted on X that this was in response to a video President Trump did not like.
“The President directing the FBI to target us is exactly why we made this video in the first place,” Slotkin wrote.
The six Democrats did not specify which orders they considered illegal in their video.
Trump has ordered National Guard deployments into multiple US cities against local objections.
He has described these actions as necessary to curb what he calls rampant unrest.
Overseas, Trump ordered strikes on alleged drug-smuggling vessels that killed over 80 people.
Legal experts have questioned the legality of these maritime operations.
Trump initially accused the group of seditious behavior punishable by death.
Over the weekend, he wrote in an all-caps social media rant that the traitors should be in jail.
