Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin from Michigan has declined to participate voluntarily in an investigation initiated by the Justice Department concerning a video she helped produce. The video appealed to members of the U.S. military to resist what the lawmakers described as "illegal orders," intensifying a public confrontation that former President Donald Trump has actively aggravated.
Correspondence obtained details that Slotkin's attorney communicated to U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, stating the senator's refusal to attend a voluntary interview connected to the video. Additionally, the legal team requested that Pirro retain all relevant documents pertaining to the matter in anticipation of potential future litigation. Parallel correspondence urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to end the inquiry and to reject an FBI request for an interview with Slotkin regarding the video.
This stance signals an important shift in this dispute, transferring the responsibility to the Justice Department to either press the investigation further into serving members of Congress or to halt the inquiry amid open opposition. Speaking in an interview, Slotkin explained the strategy: "I did this to go on offense," adding that she wanted authorities "to own their choices of using a U.S. attorney’s office to come after a senator."
Back in November 2025, Slotkin joined five other Democrats, all with military or intelligence backgrounds, in releasing a brief video encouraging service members to adhere to established military guidelines and reject orders they considered unlawful. The group criticized the Trump administration for creating divisions between the military, intelligence professionals, and American citizens, urging troops to stand up for legal principles.
The video ignited substantial criticism from the Republican camp and drew direct condemnation from Trump, who accused the involved lawmakers of sedition and suggested their conduct was punishable by death.
Following the controversy, the Pentagon announced an investigation into Senator Mark Kelly from Arizona, a former Navy pilot featured in the same video. Subsequently, the FBI reached out for interviews with the lawmakers, hinting at a broader investigation by the Justice Department.
Slotkin recounted how early legal advisories recommended caution, suggesting that remaining silent might cause the issue to dissipate over the holiday season. Yet, the matter resurfaced in January when the U.S. attorney's office sought further engagement. Concurrently, security threats escalated: Slotkin’s Michigan farm was subjected to a bomb threat, her brother was provided police protection due to threats, and her elderly parents experienced a swatting incident at home. Her father, battling cancer until his death in January, faced police intervention despite his frailty. These events prompted Slotkin to adopt a more defiant approach, declaring, "It’s not gonna stop unless I fight back."
Up until this point, all requests from the FBI and Justice Department for interviews had been voluntary. Slotkin’s legal representative, Preet Bharara, engaged with prosecutors but declined the personal interview demand, urging the immediate discontinuation of the investigation and cessation of all inquiries related to the video. A letter to Attorney General Bondi pressed for intervention to close the investigation, citing infringement on the senator’s constitutional rights and expressing readiness to pursue litigation. Slotkin acknowledged the possibility of complying with a subpoena would be carefully considered.
Senator Kelly has similarly resisted, having filed a federal lawsuit against the Pentagon to challenge disciplinary actions for his video involvement. A recent federal court proceeding saw a judge acknowledge no Supreme Court precedent supporting such Pentagon measures. Slotkin remains in communication with the other lawmakers featured in the video but has not disclosed their responses or strategies regarding the probes.
The controversy coincides with an increased public profile for the involved Democrats. Trump’s persistent attacks on political rivals have sometimes had the paradoxical effect of strengthening their visibility and support. Senator Kelly reported raising over $12.5 million in the closing months of 2025 following the video dispute. Similarly, Slotkin, who transitioned from a competitive House district to winning a Senate seat in 2024 despite Trump carrying Michigan, is considered a potential contender in the 2028 presidential race.
Slotkin delivered the Democratic rebuttal to Trump’s congressional address last year and has advocated for a more assertive Democratic posture against Trump, criticizing the party for losing its "alpha energy" and urging aggressive countermeasures against redistricting efforts. Reflecting on the risks involved, she stated, "If I’m encouraging other people to take risk, how can I not then accept risk myself? I think you’ve got to show people that we’re not going to lay down and take it."