Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA), one of the Democrat lawmakers dubbed the “Seditious Six” for appearing in a controversial video urging U.S. service members to refuse “illegal orders,” now says he will not cooperate with the FBI’s investigation into the matter.
Deluzio made the declaration Wednesday night on CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360.”
The congressman told host John Berman that despite FBI outreach, he plans to decline a voluntary interview.
Berman opened the segment by noting the stakes:
“My next guest is a veteran in one of the six Democratic lawmakers that recently posted this video to social media, imploring military members not to follow illegal orders.
“The president has suggested they are guilty of treason.
“The FBI has opened an investigation.”
He then asked the Pennsylvania Democrat whether he had been contacted by federal authorities.
Deluzio replied, “Well, that’s been reported now, I think, since yesterday, that the FBI wants to ask me and the other members of Congress I served with for voluntary interviews.
“As I said, when this news broke, it’s a clear attempt to intimidate us as members of Congress, to try to deter us from criticizing the president.”
Berman pressed for clarity: “What contact has there been from the FBI so far?”
Deluzio responded, “What’s been reported out there is they’ve tried to contact me and the other members for voluntary interviews.”
Berman then asked the central question:
“Do you plan on cooperating?”
Deluzio was blunt.
“I’m not planning a sit-down for a voluntary interview, no,” he said.
When Berman asked, “Oh. Why not?” Deluzio answered:
“Well, look, everyone in this country has a right to refuse to do that.”
WATCH:
The FBI investigation was opened after the group of lawmakers, all with military or intelligence backgrounds, released a video urging troops to defy orders they personally deem illegal.
The Department of War has since launched a formal review of Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), the only member of the group still bound by the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
President Donald Trump has described the video as “seditious behavior.”
Senior Pentagon officials have also warned that the messaging undermines troop discipline and the chain of command.
Deluzio’s refusal to cooperate now places him directly at odds with federal investigators.
It also escalates the political drama surrounding what military leaders have already called a “politically motivated influence operation.”
READ MORE – Hegseth Blasts ‘Seditious Six’ Democrats Over ‘Illegal Orders’ Video: ‘Despicable’
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