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Democratic lawmakers who encouraged American troops to ignore unlawful orders are now responding to what they describe as a federal investigation into their actions.

Alert of Investigation

Democrat Legislator Elissa Slotkin of the state of Michigan announced that the Federal Bureau of Investigation on the start of the week notified the half-dozen congressional members who appeared in last week's video about the examination.

"No amount of intimidation or targeting will ever prevent us from doing our jobs and upholding our Constitution," several US House members declared.

Executive Response

Their statement to troops prompted President Trump to allege the Democrats of "seditious behavior, carrying capital punishment" and triggered a Pentagon review of "significant claims of improper behavior" against Democratic Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, who likewise appeared in the recording.

The Department of Justice declined to comment on the alleged investigation.

Video Particulars

The video by Democrats, all of whom have worked in the military or national security sector, was shared last week by Slotkin and features Kelly and Congress members Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander, Chrissy Houlahan and Jason Crow.

The message came amid increasing friction between the Trump administration and the government of Venezuela, as well as Democrat-led municipalities opposing Trump's sending of National Guard troops to the region.

FBI Involvement

Slotkin said on Tuesday that the FBI's national security division delivered a note to the legislators to inform them of an reported investigation into the lawmakers.

"The President's response and the deployment of the Federal Bureau against us is precisely why we made the recording," she said at an gathering in Michigan.

"He believes in employing the federal government against his perceived opponents, and he's not afraid to utilize the resources of the administration against people he disagrees with," she commented, characterizing Trump's actions as "a scare tactic."

Legislative Response

Likewise, US representatives Deluzio, Goodlander, Houlahan and Crow said that the President is using the FBI as "instrument to pressure and target" members of Congress, verifying that the Federal Bureau reached out to the House and Senate Sergeants at Arms to request interviews.

"We swore an pledge to support and defend the founding document of the United States. That oath lasts a lifetime, and we intend to honor it. We won't be intimidated. We refuse to give up the ship," they stated.

Executive Response

The video - in which the Arizona senator alleged the government of "setting our armed forces and intelligence community personnel against American citizens" - provoked the President's anger and he implied on social media that they be arrested, imprisoned and executed.

His comments received cross-party condemnation and the chief executive ultimately walked back his remarks in a TV interview, explaining that he was "not advocating death."

Defense Department Response

On Monday, the Pentagon alleged Senator Kelly, a former captain in the Navy and space explorer, of breaching military law. The defence department announced it would conduct a examination to determine whether the Arizona senator should be returned to military service to undergo court-martial proceedings.

Although the senator retired from the military, he is still bound by the Uniform Code of Military Justice - a federal law enacted by Congress in 1951 that subjects personnel of the military to a unique system of regulations.

Military Secretary Statement

Military leader Pete Hegseth accused Kelly of violating the UCMJ and of employing his position and service affiliation as a way to provide "the appearance of legitimacy to his statements" in the recording.

He added that the senator's behavior "brings discredit upon the armed forces and will be addressed appropriately."

Senator Response

But the Arizona senator likewise pushed back, saying that he has "devoted significant service to this nation to be intimidated by intimidators who prioritize their own authority than protecting the Constitution."

Reports suggested on the following day that the FBI and Department of Justice contacted Capitol Police to arrange meetings with the half-dozen members of Congress.

The Federal Bureau declined to provide statement on Tuesday when approached by media outlets.