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Houlahan echoed the sentiment in a social media post: “The six of us are being targeted not because we said something untrue, but because we said something President Trump and Secretary Hegseth didn’t want anyone to hear.”
Senator Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., another participant in the video, confirmed Tuesday that she is facing an investigation by Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia and a known Trump ally.
Before releasing his own statement Wednesday, Crow told reporters, “Slotkin is facing the exact same thing that all the members who filmed this video are facing right now. It’s the same situation that the Trump administration has decided to weaponize the Department of Justice to try to silence their political opponents and suppress dissent. But we are members of Congress, we will do our duty.”
According to Crow’s office, Pirro’s team contacted him last week requesting an interview about the video, which six former military and intelligence officials now serving in Congress released last November. The video explicitly urged service members not to follow directives from Hegseth and Trump.
Pirro’s office declined to confirm details, responding Wednesday, “We do not confirm or deny the existence of an investigation.”
President Donald Trump immediately criticized the lawmakers after the video surfaced, calling their actions “seditious behavior” and warning that they could face consequences “punishable by death.” Trump later clarified on Brian Kilmeade’s radio show that he was “not threatening death” but insisted, “I think they’re in serious trouble.”
In a joint statement issued in November, Crow, Goodlander, Houlahan, and Rep. Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania alleged that the FBI had contacted House and Senate sergeants-at-arms about the video. They accused Trump of “using the FBI as a tool to intimidate and harass Members of Congress.”
Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, a retired Navy captain and another participant, filed a lawsuit Monday against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Department of Defense. The suit challenges efforts to censure and demote him over his participation in the video, calling these measures “unlawful and unconstitutional.”
Crow and Kelly both confirmed this week that, despite outreach from federal authorities, no interviews with the FBI have taken place to date.
The escalating scrutiny of these Democrats underscores a growing tension between the executive branch and members of Congress, raising questions about political influence in federal investigations and the protection of elected officials from potential government overreach.
