Democratic lawmakers Allege Trump of ‘Intimidation’ Campaign as FBI Requests Meetings
A group of Democrat politicians labeled by the president as engaging in “subversive conduct” 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 group of four politicians, together with two additional members, had created a video urging American troops to resist illegal commands – a statement that provoked Trump, who wrote on social media that the group were “disloyal citizens” and thus could be jailed or even be subject to capital punishment.
An announcement, issued by congressional lawmakers Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan, and Maggie Goodlander, verified that the Federal Bureau of Investigation had reached out to the Congressional security officials requesting discussions with them.
“No amount of intimidation or harassment will ever stop us from doing our jobs and honoring our constitution,” they stated, adding that they had each sworn an oath “to support and defend” the Constitution of the United States.
“That commitment is permanent, and we intend to keep it. We will not be bullied. We will not surrender our principles,” they added.
The statement deepens a conflict between the president’s team and Democrats, such as the senator from Arizona and ex-astronaut Senator Kelly and the Michigan representative Elissa Slotkin, over the recorded appeal, which urged the armed forces and intelligence personnel to “refuse illegal orders.”
The Michigan lawmaker said the FBI’s counter-terrorism division had informed the lawmakers that “they are initiating what appears to be an inquiry against the six of us” and described the action as a “intimidation strategy” by Trump.
“To be honest, the president’s reaction and the deployment of the FBI to target us is precisely the reason we made the video,” she said.
“He believes in using the US government against his perceived adversaries, and he’s not afraid to use the arms of the government to target dissenters. He fails to accept the rules govern his actions … which is exactly why we produced the recording, to offer reassurance that they had support as they watch this stuff unfold.”
The Pentagon has additionally stated it is conducting a review of misconduct allegations involving the senator that could, it said, lead to his return to military service to face court-martial proceedings.
