Jeanine Pirro, Trump loyalist and former Fox News host turned U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., tried to turn her legal authority into a weapon against a Democratic senator — and it blew up spectacularly.
Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) discovered that Pirro’s office had reached out, demanding a conversation about a November video she and other Democratic lawmakers posted warning military officers and intelligence personnel against illegal orders — and the fallout is already raging.
Slotkin, a former CIA officer, told The New York Times she discovered the investigation via an email from Pirro’s office. She did not mince words:
“Facts matter little, but the threat matters quite a bit. The threat of legal action; the threat to your family; the threat to your staff; the threat to you,” she said.
The video in question, posted in November, urged military officers and intelligence personnel to refuse illegal orders and criticized Trump-era operations, including strikes near Venezuela. Other lawmakers in the video included Sen. Mark Kelly and Reps. Chris Deluzio, Chrissy Houlahan, Maggie Goodlander, and Jason Crow. President Trump went on Truth Social, labeling their actions “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!” This prompted Capitol Police to assign 24-hour protection for Slotkin; her brother also had a police car stationed outside his home.
Slotkin is not the only target. Reports indicate Pirro’s office is examining other politically charged matters, including inquiries that touch on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, suggesting a pattern of politically tinged legal threats. Meanwhile, Kelly filed a lawsuit challenging Pentagon actions against him, arguing that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s attempt to demote or censure him for participation in the video violates both his First Amendment rights and the Speech and Debate clause.
Hegseth initially threatened Kelly with court-martial and later reduced his retirement rank and pay. Kelly’s suit frames the matter as unprecedented: “It appears that never in our nation’s history has the Executive Branch imposed military sanctions on a Member of Congress for engaging in disfavored political speech,” the filing states. The lawsuit warns that Pirro’s approach could chill lawmakers and retired military members from speaking critically of the Executive.
Pirro’s move has triggered public backlash. By attempting to intimidate a Democratic senator, she has exposed her office to scrutiny, lawsuits, and political blowback. It’s classic Trump MAGA-style enforcement: wield power to punish critics, and watch chaos bloom. In this case, the fallout is hitting her harder than her target.
