0:56Sen. Elissa Slotkin listens to testimony by Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be defense secretary, during his Senate Armed Services confirmation hearing, January 14, 2025. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images
Sen. Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat representing Michigan, announced on Wednesday that she is the subject of a federal investigation regarding a video she and other Democratic legislators shared on social media last year, which informed military personnel of their right to refuse unlawful orders.
"Last week, the U.S. Attorney from the District of Columbia, former Fox host Jeannine Pirro, contacted me to request an interview due to a 90-second video I recorded in November," Slotkin stated in a video shared on X this morning. "This comes in addition to an FBI inquiry initiated by the counterterrorism division late last year."
In a video posted to X, Jan. 14, 2026, Sen. Elissa Slotkin confirmed that U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro asked to interview her concerning a social media video that Slotkin and other lawmakers posted last year that told military servicemembers that they could refuse illegal orders.@SenatorSlotkin/X
Slotkin, a former CIA officer, became aware of the investigation when federal prosecutors reached out to her—a detail initially reported by The New York Times and corroborated by her office to ABC News.
A representative from the U.S. attorney’s office indicated that they neither confirm nor deny the existence of an investigation. The grounds for the inquiry remain unclear.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro speaks at a press conference at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, September 5, 2025 in Washington.Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
In the November video under scrutiny, Slotkin appeared alongside fellow Democrats who had previously served in the military or in intelligence roles, informing U.S. service members of their right to refuse unlawful commands.
In November, a CIA spokesperson criticized Slotkin for her involvement in the video, stating in a social media post that the senator joins "the ranks of disgraced former intelligence officers" who have exploited their "credentials to promote a harmful and deceptive political agenda."
Sen. Elissa Slotkin listens to testimony by Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be defense secretary, during his Senate Armed Services confirmation hearing, January 14, 2025.Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images
The video has garnered attention due to separate actions taken by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth against Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly, who was also featured in the original social media post. Hegseth recently initiated a censure against Kelly, prompting Kelly to file a lawsuit claiming the censure infringed upon his constitutional rights.
The censure will lead to a decrease in rank and Kelly’s retirement compensation, a process Hegseth stated would require 45 days.
The Democrats involved in the video have defended their message as consistent with the Uniform Code of Military Justice and the Constitution.
Similar to Kelly, Slotkin asserted that she will not be silenced by the ongoing investigation.
"This president does not reflect the beliefs of the majority of Americans. Even if you voted for him, I do not believe that
Sourse: abcnews.go.com