00:00This morning, the fallout is deepening after the FBI confirms it has opened an inquiry into the six Democratic lawmakers who appeared in that controversial video telling U.S. troops they can and should refuse illegal orders.
00:16Michigan Senator Alyssa Slotkin, who organized the video, says the bureau's counterterrorism division notified the group on Monday night.
00:24The counterterrorism division at the FBI sent a note to the members of Congress saying they are opening what appears to be an inquiry against the six of us.
00:39To be honest, the president's reaction and the use of the FBI against us is exactly why we made the video.
00:47He believes in using the federal government against his perceived adversaries.
00:55The six Democrats, all military or intelligence veterans, say they are now being targeted after President Trump called their actions seditious and suggested on True Social their behavior could be, quote, punishable by death.
01:09The minute I saw the president said they should be hanged and in effect, I knew that our security situation was going to change precipitously.
01:20Obviously, I'm worried about my family. I'm worried about my staff.
01:24You know, I've served three tours in Iraq. I've done dangerous things.
01:27I signed up for this, but my family did it.
01:31My my nieces and nephews didn't.
01:33The group issued a joint statement saying President Trump is using the FBI as a tool to intimidate and harass members of Congress.
01:43No amount of intimidation or harassment will ever stop us from doing our jobs and honoring our Constitution.
01:49The video at the center of the firestorm posted last week reminded service members that U.S. law requires them to refuse any order that's illegal.
01:58Slotkin later told ABC News she is not aware of Trump issuing any illegal orders.
02:04But the White House says the video itself was reckless and potentially harmful to the chain of command.
02:09Separately, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly is facing a Pentagon review for his role in that same video.
02:16Kelly is the only one of the six who can be subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice because he's a retired Navy officer.
02:24Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has formally asked the Navy for a briefing by December 10th on whether Kelly should be recalled to active duty and possibly face a court martial.
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