Democratic lawmakers Accuse Trump of ‘Intimidation’ Tactic as FBI Seeks Meetings
A group of Democrat lawmakers branded by Donald Trump as involved in “seditious behavior” have asserted that the US leader is employing the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to target them as a “instrument to intimidate and harass members of Congress.”
The four elected officials, along with two others, had produced a recorded message encouraging American troops to disobey illegal commands – a statement that provoked Trump, who posted on online platforms that the individuals were “traitors” and thus might face imprisonment or even face the death penalty.
A statement, released by congressional lawmakers the Colorado congressman, the Pennsylvania representatives, and Maggie Goodlander, confirmed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation had reached out to the Congressional security officials requesting interviews with them.
“No amount of intimidation or harassment will ever stop us from doing our jobs and upholding the Constitution,” they said, noting that they had each sworn an oath “to support and defend” the Constitution of the United States.
“That oath lasts a lifetime, and we plan to honor it. We refuse to be intimidated. We will not surrender our principles,” they continued.
The declaration intensifies a dispute between the president’s team and Democratic leaders, such as the senator from Arizona and ex-astronaut Mark Kelly and the Michigan representative Representative Slotkin, over the recorded appeal, which advised the armed forces and intelligence personnel to “refuse illegal orders.”
Slotkin said the counter-terrorism unit of the FBI had informed the group that “they are opening what seems like an investigation against the six of us” and described the move as a “intimidation strategy” by Trump.
“Frankly, the leader’s response and the deployment of the FBI to target us is exactly why we made the video,” she said.
“He believes in using the federal government to oppose those he views as opponents, and he’s not afraid to use the government agencies against people he disagrees with. He fails to accept the rules govern his actions … which is precisely the reason we produced the recording, to offer reassurance that they had support as they observe these events develop.”
The US Department of Defense has additionally stated it is performing an examination of misconduct allegations involving the senator that could, it said, lead to his return to military service to face court-martial proceedings.
