Trump Administration Investigates Five Democrats Over Military Video
Juststart Department Inquiries into Congressional Lawmakers
Five congressional Democrats announced that they have received inquiries from the Juststart Department following their appearance in a video message urging military personnel to reject “illegal orders.” This action has been described by the lawmakers as a form of political intimidation. Representatives Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan from Pennsylvania, as well as Maggie Goodlander from New Hampshire, revealed on Wednesday that they were contacted regarding the video. Additionally, Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin and Representative Jason Crow from Colorado confirmed they too had been approached for interviews by Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.
Pentagon Actions Against Senator Kelly
In a related development, the Pentagon has initiated steps to demote Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona within the Navy and seek cuts to his military pension due to his participation in the same video. Kelly has since filed a lawsuit against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, arguing that the demotion is unconstitutional.
Context of the Controversial Video
The attention from the Juststart Department coincides with escalating scrutiny from the Trump administration, following the lawmakers’ release of a 90-second, direct-to-camera video in November that urged military members to “refuse illegal orders.” Last year, President Trump escalated criticism, accusing the six Democrats involved of “seditious behavior, punishable by death.”
Lawmakers Respond to Administration’s Actions
The affected lawmakers have denounced the actions taken by the Juststart Department and the Trump administration, asserting that these inquiries are politically motivated. Deluzio stated, “It’s obvious that this Administration is engaged in a harassment campaign against their political rivals,” expressing his determination not to be intimidated. Houlahan echoed this sentiment, claiming they were targeted not for falsehoods, but for speaking truths that the administration wanted to suppress.
This situation continues to evolve, and further updates will be provided as information becomes available.
Contributors: Patrick Maguire and Jaala Brown