The FBI and Department of Justice are working to schedule interviews with six Democratic lawmakers following a controversial video that encourages military service members to ignore what they may deem ‘illegal orders.’ This development comes after the lawmakers, including Senators Elissa Slotkin and Mark Kelly, released the video, which has sparked significant backlash. President Donald Trump has been vocal in his disapproval, calling the lawmakers for arrest for their ‘sedity behavior.’ The Department of War has initiated a formal review into the allegations against Senator Kelly and may even call him back to active duty for potential court-martial proceedings under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Four of the lawmakers are former military, but not retired and therefore not subject to the UCMJ.
The controversy surrounding the video has led to strong reactions from various quarters. The Department of War, under Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, has condemned the video as an ‘irresponsibly’ planned influence operation, stating that it ‘may seem harmless to civilians — but it carries a different weight inside the military.’ Hegseth further elaborated that the video used ‘carefully scripted, legal-sounding language’ and argued that the lawmakers ‘subtly reframed military obedience around partisan distrust instead of established legal processes.’ He emphasized that the military already has clear procedures for handling unlawful orders and that the video unnecessarily introduces doubt into the chain of command.
The lawmakers involved in the video have been criticized for not providing specific examples of what they consider ‘illegal orders.’ Hegseth pointed out that this ambiguity undermines trust within the military and creates hesitation in the chain of command. He also suggested that the video was a politically-motivated effort to sow doubt, with the lawmakers, as veterans of various sorts, ‘knew exactly what they were doing.’ The Department of War has made it clear that it will not tolerate such actions and is committed to upholding the integrity of military command structures.
In addition to the formal review, the FBI and DOJ are taking the matter seriously, indicating that the lawmakers’ actions may have broader implications. The video’s release has led to public discourse about the responsibilities of lawmakers regarding military conduct and the potential for political influence within the armed forces. As the situation unfolds, the focus remains on whether the lawmakers’ actions constitute a violation of military law or if they simply represent a political statement on the use of military power. The outcome of the FBI and DOJ’s investigation, as well as the Department of War’s review, will be closely watched by legal experts and the public alike.