Democrats refuse to sit for DOJ interviews over ‘illegal orders’ video
Sen. Elissa Slotkin walks into the Senate Chamber on December 11
(CNN) — Three Democratic lawmakers – Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, and Reps. Chrissy Houlahan and Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania – said they will not sit for interviews with the Justice Department related to their involvement in a video urging service members to disobey illegal orders.
Slotkin said in a video posted to X Thursday that she has informed Attorney General Pam Bondi and DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro she won’t sit for an interview.
“Earlier today, I sent a letter to Attorney General Bondi and to the lead Department of Justice lawyer in DC, Jeanine Pirro, telling them: 1. I will not be complying with their inquiries and sitting down for an interview based on a 90-second video I filmed, and number 2. Urging them to retain their records on this case in case I decide to sue for infringement of my constitutional rights,” Slotkin said.
“I’m not going to legitimize their actions,” Slotkin said. “The intimidation is the point, and I’m not going to go along with that.”
In a separate video posted to X, Houlahan said of the DOJ request, “I will not be doing that.”
“What is happening now crosses a line when the power of the federal government is turned toward intimidating people, including veterans who have sworn to defend the Constitution and duly elected representatives of the people, for speaking the truth, that is not justice,” Houlahan said.
“Free speech is not a favor that the government can revoke. It is a right and I will not surrender it, for myself or for anyone else,” Houlahan continued.
Deluzio told CNN in a statement Friday he also doesn’t intend to sit for an interview.
“The President of the United States has already called for my arrest and hanging, and has sent the Justice Department after me and other members of Congress for stating the law. I will not be intimidated by any harassment campaign,” Deluzio said. “I do not intend to sit down for a voluntary interview with DOJ or FBI officials sent to interfere with the important work I’m doing for my constituents. This should end. And I will fight hard against any further unlawful escalation.”
CNN has reached out to the Justice Department for comment. The DC US Attorney’s office declined to comment.
Half a dozen Democratic members of Congress who previously served in the military or intelligence community recorded a video urging service members and intelligence officials to disobey illegal orders that might be issued by President Donald Trump’s administration, CNN previously reported.
At least four of the lawmakers who made the video have been contacted by Pirro’s office for interviews following their involvement in the controversial video.
Slotkin, Houlahan and Deluzio – along with Sen. Mark Kelly and Reps. Jason Crow, Maggie Goodlander – said in the November video, “threats to our Constitution” are coming “from right here at home.”
“No one has to carry out orders that violate the law, or our Constitution,” they said. “Know that we have your back… don’t give up the ship,” the lawmakers said.
Trump has accused the lawmakers of “seditious behavior” and suggested they should be put to death, drawing a swift rebuke from Democrats on Capitol Hill, who condemned the president’s comments as an attempt to incite violence.
Kelly, who has been publicly attacked by Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth for his role in the video, is suing after a Pentagon move to cut his retirement pay and reduce his rank for participating in it.
Earlier this week a federal judge appeared likely to side with Kelly in the case, which alleges the Pentagon is violating his First Amendment rights through its effort to punish him.
This story has been updated with additional developments.
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CNN’s Aleena Fayaz contributed to this report.
