Justice Department seeks interview with Representative Crow over illegal orders video
The U.S. Justice Department requested an interview with U.S. Representative Jason Crow over a video in which he and other Democrats in Congress said members of the military and intelligence community should refuse illegal orders from the Trump administration, according to Crow’s office.
“Donald Trump called for my arrest, prosecution, and execution — all because I said something he didn’t like,” Crow said in a statement. “Now he’s pressuring his political appointees to harass me for daring to speak up and hold him accountable. I won’t be intimidated and will keep fighting to uphold my oath to the Constitution and defend our country.”
The office of Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, requested the interview with Crow.
Crow, an Aurora Democrat who is a former Army Ranger, and the others in the video specified that troops have the right to refuse illegal orders — not any order — under the U.S. Constitution and other legal provisions.
Trump said in social media posts that their words were seditious and punishable by death. He also shared a post calling for them to be hanged.
The FBI separately requested an interview with Crow in November.
Crow’s office saw an increase in threats against him after Trump’s statements on the video.
Others in the video have also been contacted by the Justice Department, including U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and U.S. Representatives Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania.
The U.S. Department of Defense is attempting to downgrade the retirement rank and pay of U.S. Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona for his participation in the video.
