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Democrat legislators who encouraged US military personnel to ignore unlawful orders are now responding to what they describe as a federal investigation into their conduct.

Alert of Investigation

Democrat Legislator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan announced that the Federal Bureau of Investigation on the start of the week informed the half-dozen congressional members who appeared in last week's video about the investigation.

"Any attempt at intimidation or targeting will ever stop us from doing our jobs and upholding our Constitution," four US House members stated.

Executive Response

Their statement to troops prompted President Trump to allege the Democratic lawmakers of "seditious behavior, punishable by death" and initiated a Pentagon review of "significant claims of misconduct" against Democrat Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, who also participated in the recording.

The Justice Department refused to provide statement on the reported probe.

Video Details

The recording by Democrats, all of whom have worked in the military or national security sector, was shared last week by the Michigan senator and features Senator Kelly and US Representatives Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander, Chrissy Houlahan and Jason Crow.

The message came amid escalating friction between the current administration and the government of Venezuela, as well as Democrat-led municipalities resisting Trump's deployment of National Guard troops to the area.

Federal Bureau Participation

Slotkin stated on the following day that the Federal Bureau of Investigation's counterterrorism unit delivered a notification to the Congress members to inform them of an reported inquiry into the lawmakers.

"The President's response and the use of the Federal Bureau against us is exactly why we created the video," she stated at an event in Michigan.

"He thinks in employing the federal government against his perceived opponents, and he's not hesitant to utilize the resources of the administration against individuals he disagrees with," she commented, characterizing Trump's behavior as "a scare tactic."

Legislative Response

Similarly, Congress members Deluzio, Goodlander, Houlahan and Crow asserted that Trump is using the Federal Bureau as "tool to pressure and harass" legislators, verifying that the FBI contacted the Congressional security officials to arrange interviews.

"We swore an oath to support and protect the Constitution of the United States of America. That commitment is permanent, and we intend to keep it. We won't be intimidated. We refuse to give up the ship," they stated.

Executive Response

The recording - in which Kelly alleged the administration of "pitting our armed forces and security personnel against the American people" - provoked the President's anger and he suggested on online platforms that they be arrested, imprisoned and executed.

His comments drew cross-party censure and the president eventually retracted his remarks in a television appearance, clarifying that he was "not advocating death."

Defense Department Action

On the start of the week, the Pentagon accused the Arizona legislator, a former officer in the US Navy and astronaut, of violating military law. The defence department said it would conduct a examination to establish whether the state senator should be returned to military service to undergo military judicial process.

Even though Kelly left from the military, he is still subject to the military legal code - a national legislation enacted by Congress in 1951 that subjects members of the military to a special set of rules.

Defense Secretary Comment

Defence secretary Pete Hegseth accused the senator of breaking the military code and of using his rank and service affiliation as a way to lend "the appearance of legitimacy to his words" in the recording.

He continued that Kelly's behavior "casts doubt upon the military and will be handled properly."

Senator Response

But the Arizona senator likewise pushed back, saying that he has "given too much to this nation to be intimidated by intimidators who care more about their own power than protecting the founding document."

Reports indicated on the following day that the FBI and Justice Department contacted Capitol Police to schedule meetings with the six members of Congress.

The FBI declined to provide statement on Tuesday when approached by news organizations.