Five Democratic lawmakers have confirmed that the Justice Department is investigating them over a video released last fall that urged service members to refuse illegal orders. The situation surfaced publicly after reporting by The Hill, which detailed how the inquiry has expanded beyond the original participants.
Reps. Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania and Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire said the Justice Department attempted to interview them about the video, which they recorded alongside four other Democrats. The clip quickly drew the attention of President Trump, who reacted angrily after it began circulating.
Trump publicly accused the lawmakers of criminal conduct and called for severe consequences, including prosecution and imprisonment. In a post shared in November on his social media platform, he labeled the video “sedition at the highest level” and insisted there was no other interpretation of their actions.
The Justice Department’s inquiry is widening beyond the original video
All six lawmakers featured in the video have military or intelligence backgrounds and said their intent was to restate a basic principle of military law. Speaking directly to service members, they emphasized that troops are obligated to refuse unlawful orders and reminded viewers that their oath is to the Constitution. This episode follows broader moments of Trump’s public clashes, such as when he publicly criticized the Ukrainian president’s role in peace talks that have shaped recent political narratives.
The lawmakers did not specify which potential orders they were referencing at the time of the video’s release. However, Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona later cited concerns in a separate lawsuit, pointing to Trump’s use of National Guard deployments in U.S. cities and lethal strikes against boats suspected of drug smuggling.
Houlahan and Goodlander have described the investigation as political retaliation. Houlahan said they are being targeted not for spreading false information, but for stating legal obligations that Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not want amplified.
The probe appears to extend to other participants as well. A spokesperson for Rep. Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania confirmed that the Justice Department is also investigating him, calling the inquiry a harassment campaign against political opponents.
Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado and Sen. Elisa Slotkin of Michigan have likewise said they were contacted by federal prosecutors about the video. Slotkin stated that the inquiry is being handled by Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, though Pirro’s office has declined to confirm or deny the existence of an investigation.
Kelly has also faced separate action from the Defense Department, with Hegseth seeking to censure the retired Navy captain and reduce his retirement rank. Kelly responded by filing a lawsuit asking a federal judge to preserve the constitutional balance between Congress and the military. Similar broader political tensions are visible in other national stories, such as high-level diplomatic pressure over Greenland.
As of now, the Justice Department has not publicly identified what specific criminal statute the lawmakers are alleged to have violated.
Published: Jan 15, 2026 06:30 pm