Elissa Slotkin will not consent to FBI interview over video in which she urged military personnel to not comply with 'illegal orders'

Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) said on social media on Thursday that she will not be complying with an inquiry from the Department of Justice regarding the "illegal orders" video that she and other Democratic lawmakers made in November.

“Earlier today, I sent a letter to Attorney General Bondi and to the lead Department of Justice lawyer in DC, Janine Pirro, telling them, one, I will not be complying with their inquiries and sitting down for an interview based on a 90 second video I filmed, and number two, urging them to retain their records on this case in case I decide to sue for infringement of my constitutional rights,” Slotkin said in a video posted to social media.

She said that the November video that she and the other lawmakers filmed was merely a “restating [of] current law” that “uniformed military have a responsibility to refuse illegal orders.”

At the time, President Donald Trump suggested that Slotkin, along with Senator Mark Kelly and Representatives Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander, Chrissy Houlahan, and Jason Crow, were all in violation of the law and should be arrested for sedition.

The letter that she sent to Pirro said that the DOJ needed to preserve documents related to the case for “anticipated litigation,” per the AP. In a separate letter to Bondi, her lawyer said that Slotkin would decline an FBI interview regarding the video, and claimed that the DOJ inquiry should be terminated.

“They are purposely using physical and legal intimidation to get me to shut up. But more importantly, they're using that intimidation to deter others from speaking out against their administration. The intimidation is the point, and I'm not going to go along with that. That's why I've asked Pirro and Bondi to retain all records on this case in line with the law, because the Supreme Court may have given the president near immunity on most matters, but they've given no such immunity to those doing his bidding,” Slotkin added in the video posted on Thursday.

“If they can do this to a sitting senator, imagine what they can do to a community leader, a business leader, or a mom who goes viral on the internet,” she later added.

In the video that was released in November by the lawmakers, their message, which was a mash-up of all the lawmakers speaking, said, "This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens. Like us, you all swore an oath to protect and defend this Constitution. Right now, the threats to our Constitution aren’t just coming from abroad, but from right here at home. Our laws are clear: you can refuse illegal orders."

After the release of the video, and when she was later pressed on the issue, Slotkin could not think of any “illegal orders” that were given by President Donald Trump. Some have raised concerns that because the “illegal orders” video did not give any examples and was vague in its nature, it may lead some in the military to question whether legal orders are illegal. This may possibly undermine military authority and effectiveness, which may be considered a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice for those in the military.