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A group of Democratic lawmakers labeled by Donald Trump as engaging in “seditious behavior” have asserted that the president is using the FBI to target them as a “instrument to pressure and threaten congressional representatives.”

The four politicians, along with two others, had created a recorded message encouraging US military service members to resist illegal commands – a statement that provoked Trump, who wrote on online platforms that the group were “disloyal citizens” and thus might face imprisonment or even be subject to capital punishment.

An announcement, issued by US representatives Jason Crow, the Pennsylvania representatives, and the New Hampshire lawmaker, confirmed that the FBI had reached out to the House and Senate sergeants at arms requesting discussions with them.

“Regardless of any pressure or threats will ever stop us from doing our jobs and honoring our constitution,” they said, adding that they had each taken a vow “to support and defend” the US constitution.

“That oath lasts a lifetime, and we plan to honor it. We will not be bullied. We will never give up the ship,” they added.

The statement deepens a conflict between the president’s team and Democrats, such as the senator from Arizona and ex-astronaut Senator Kelly and the Michigan representative Representative Slotkin, over the recorded appeal, which urged the armed forces and intelligence personnel to “disregard unlawful commands.”

Slotkin said the counter-terrorism unit of the FBI had notified the group that “they are initiating what appears to be an investigation targeting the six individuals” and characterized the move as a “intimidation strategy” by Trump.

“Frankly, the president’s reaction and the deployment of the FBI to target us is precisely the reason we created the message,” she explained.

“He believes in using the federal government to oppose those he views as opponents, and he’s not afraid to use the arms of the government to target dissenters. He fails to accept the law applies to him … which is exactly why we produced the recording, to give people some assurance that they weren’t alone as they watch this stuff unfold.”

The US Department of Defense has also said it is performing an examination of misconduct allegations against Kelly that could, it said, result in him being recalled to active duty to face court-martial proceedings.