Democrats Face FBI Inquiry Following Video Urging Troops to Question Orders, as Ukraine Peace Talks Progress
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The FBI has reportedly launched inquiries into six Democratic members of Congress after they appeared in a video advising service members to “refuse illegal orders.” This development coincides with ongoing discussions regarding a potential peace deal in Ukraine, where progress is reportedly being made despite lingering complexities.
FBI Scrutiny of Lawmakers
Four House Democrats – Maggie Goodlander, Jason Crow, Chrissy Houlahan, and Chris Deluzio – confirmed that the FBI has requested interviews with them. All six lawmakers involved in the video, which also includes Senators Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin, are veterans of the military or intelligence communities. The representatives issued a joint statement asserting that President Trump is weaponizing the FBI to “intimidate and harass” them.
“We swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. That oath lasts a lifetime, and we intend to keep it. We will not be bullied. We will never give up the ship,” the statement read.
Senator Slotkin revealed that the FBI’s counterterrorism division “appeared to open an inquiry” into her, stating, “The President directing the FBI to target us is exactly why we made this video in the first place. He believes in weaponizing the federal government against his perceived enemies and does not believe laws apply to him or his Cabinet. He uses legal harassment as an intimidation tactic to scare people out of speaking up.”
The situation escalated after President Trump accused the lawmakers of “seditious behavior, punishable by death” in a post on Truth Social, and subsequently re-shared calls from other users advocating for their arrest and execution. Senator Kelly has characterized the Pentagon’s investigation into his involvement as an act of “intimidation,” emphasizing the patriotic duty to uphold the Constitution.
Ukraine Peace Negotiations Advance
Simultaneously, the White House indicated “tremendous progress” toward a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia, though “a few delicate, but not insurmountable” details remain. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that further negotiations are needed involving the United States, Ukraine, and Russia.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, has signaled Kyiv’s willingness to move forward with a US-backed peace framework, expressing readiness to discuss sensitive aspects with President Trump alongside European allies. Zelenskyy urged European leaders to establish a framework for a “reassurance force” in Ukraine and to maintain support for Kyiv as long as Russia continues its aggression.
Political Reactions and Concerns
The unfolding events have drawn criticism from across the political spectrum. Mitch McConnell, a senior congressional Republican, cautioned against a peace plan that might require Ukraine to cede territory, arguing that “a deal that rewards aggression wouldn’t be worth the paper it’s written on.” He emphasized that the US should not act as a “neutral arbiter” in the conflict.
Meanwhile, Don Bacon, an outgoing Republican congressman, described the Pentagon’s investigation into Senator Kelly as evidence of “amateur hour” and called for “common sense and restraint.” He acknowledged the video’s questionable timing but condemned the threats of legal repercussions as “crazy.”
The situation remains fluid, with ongoing discussions and heightened political tensions surrounding both the domestic inquiry into the Democratic lawmakers and the international efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine.
