Senator Elissa Slotkin under federal investigation over 'illegal orders' video to troops
LANSING, MICHIGAN: Federal prosecutors are now investigating Senator Elissa Slotkin after she appeared in a video telling military and intelligence members that they should not follow illegal orders.
The investigation adds to growing legal tension surrounding several Democratic lawmakers who shared the same message in the video.
Federal probe intensifies over Elissa Slotkin’s military advice video
Senator Elissa Slotkin, who previously worked for the CIA in Iraq, told the New York Times that she learned about the investigation from the office of Jeanine Pirro, the attorney for the District of Columbia.
Her office confirmed the inquiry but did not provide further details about what prosecutors are examining.
Slotkin said the pressure felt more like intimidation than a search for the truth, stating, “Facts matter little, but the threat matters quite a bit,” and adding that there is a constant “threat of legal action; the threat to your family; the threat to your staff; the threat to you.”
Mark Kelly challenges Pentagon over alleged demotion
Slotkin is not the only person in the video facing scrutiny, as Senator Mark Kelly is also engaged in a legal fight with the government.
Kelly, a retired Navy captain, recently sued Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after the Pentagon attempted to punish him for what it described as “seditious statements.”
Kelly is pushing back against the effort to demote him, calling the move by the Defense Department “unlawful and unconstitutional.”
We want to speak directly to members of the Military and the Intelligence Community.
— Sen. Elissa Slotkin (@SenatorSlotkin) November 18, 2025
The American people need you to stand up for our laws and our Constitution.
Don’t give up the ship. pic.twitter.com/N8lW0EpQ7r
In addition to Slotkin, Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz), Representative Jason Crow (D-Colo), Representative Chris Deluzio (D-Pa), Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa), and Representative Maggie Goodlander (D-NH) also appeared in the video.
The controversy erupted after Slotkin and fellow Democratic veterans posted a message urging troops “not to follow unspecified illegal orders.”
Elissa Slotkin receives threats after Trump seditious comments
The situation intensified after Trump accused the lawmakers in the video of “seditious behavior.”
Trump took to Truth Social to denounce the move, stating, “It’s called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL.” While he initially claimed their actions were “punishable by death,” he later clarified that he was not threatening their lives but still believed they were “in serious trouble.”
Donald J. Trump Truth Social Post 09:08 AM EST 11/20/25
— Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) November 20, 2025
It’s called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL. Their words cannot be allowed to stand - We won’t have a Country anymore!!! An example MUST…
Because of these comments and the public backlash, Slotkin said she began receiving threats almost immediately.
She noted that the situation became so dangerous that the Capitol Police told her she would need to be placed under 24/7 security to keep her safe.