Representative Greg Steube (R-FL) criticized Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) for their apparent refusal to answer questions from the Department of Justice (DOJ) during a recent appearance on Fox Business's Bottom Line.
Sen. Slotkin and Rep. Houlahan were part of the so-called "Seditious Six," a group of Democratic lawmakers who released a video in November saying that members of the U.S. military had the right to disobey unlawful orders. The video received criticism from Republicans who argued that it intended to prompt servicemembers to question any order from President Donald Trump.
The video has prompted investigations into the lawmakers, with Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), a former Navy officer now in the reserves, being the most prominent figure to be investigated. However, Sen. Slotkin and Rep. Houlahan have publicly stated that they will not comply.
Rep. Steube said the lawmakers' noncompliance constitutes "hypocrisy," saying, "They are telling you to do one thing and doing the other when it comes to cooperating with the DOJ." However, Rep. Steube seemed skeptical that the "Seditious Six" would face accountability, claiming that Washington, DC is heavily Democratic.
"But the hypocrisy in all of this is interesting," the Florida congressman argued, adding, "If you did not do anything wrong, then why wouldn't you cooperate with the DOJ in their investigation?"
Steube further commented that Slotkin and Houlahan would likely receive subpoenas, "but that is not going to look good for them as it goes into a grand jury or it goes into some type of prosecution."
He slammed the video as a "political stunt" released at "a time when our military is seeing record improvement," citing the recent capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and the bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities.
The Florida congressman cited his own experience as a veteran entering politics, noting that as a member in active duty or in the reserves, "Your words mattered, and you were still comparable to the UCMJ [Uniform Code of Military Justice]."
