Democratic lawmakers Allege Trump of ‘Harassment’ Campaign as FBI Requests Meetings
A group of Democratic lawmakers branded by the president as involved in “subversive conduct” have asserted that the US leader is employing the FBI to target them as a “tool to intimidate and harass congressional representatives.”
The group of four elected officials, along with two others, had created a video encouraging US military service members to resist unlawful orders – a statement that angered Trump, who posted on online platforms that the individuals were “traitors” and thus could be jailed or even face the death penalty.
A statement, released by US representatives the Colorado congressman, the Pennsylvania representatives, and the New Hampshire lawmaker, verified that the FBI had reached out to the Congressional security officials requesting interviews with them.
“Regardless of any pressure or threats will ever prevent us from fulfilling our duties and upholding the Constitution,” they stated, noting that they had each taken a vow “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 statement intensifies a dispute between the president’s team and Democrats, such as the senator from Arizona and former astronaut Mark Kelly and Michigan congresswoman Representative Slotkin, over the video message, which urged the armed forces and intelligence personnel to “disregard unlawful commands.”
Slotkin said the FBI’s counter-terrorism division had notified the lawmakers that “they are initiating what appears to be an investigation targeting the six individuals” and characterized the move as a “intimidation strategy” by Trump.
“Frankly, the president’s reaction and the deployment of the FBI to target us is precisely the reason we created the message,” she explained.
“He believes in using the federal government against his perceived adversaries, and he’s willing to employ the government agencies to target dissenters. He fails to accept the rules govern his actions … which is exactly why we produced the recording, to give people some assurance that they had support as they watch this stuff unfold.”
The Pentagon has also said it is conducting a review of claims of improper behavior involving the senator that could, it said, lead to his return to military service to undergo a military trial.
