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A group of Democratic lawmakers branded by the president as involved in “subversive conduct” have asserted that the president is using the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) against them as a “tool to pressure and threaten members of Congress.”

The group of four politicians, together with two additional members, had produced a recorded message urging American troops to resist unlawful orders – a message that angered Trump, who posted on online platforms that the group were “traitors” and thus could be jailed or even be subject to capital punishment.

An announcement, released by congressional lawmakers Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan, and Maggie Goodlander, verified that the FBI had contacted the House and Senate sergeants at arms seeking discussions with them.

“Regardless of any pressure or threats will ever stop us from doing our jobs and honoring our constitution,” they said, noting that they had each sworn an oath “to uphold and protect” the US constitution.

“That oath lasts a lifetime, and we plan to honor it. We refuse to be intimidated. We will never give up the ship,” they continued.

The statement intensifies a dispute between the president’s team and Democrats, including Arizona senator and former astronaut Mark Kelly and the Michigan representative Representative Slotkin, over the recorded appeal, which urged the military and intelligence services members to “disregard unlawful commands.”

The Michigan lawmaker said the counter-terrorism unit of the FBI had informed the lawmakers that “they are initiating what appears to be an inquiry against the six of us” and described the move as a “intimidation strategy” by Trump.

“To be honest, the leader’s response and the deployment of the FBI to target us is precisely the reason we made the video,” she said.

“He believes in using the US government to oppose those he views as opponents, and he’s not afraid to use the government agencies to target dissenters. He fails to accept the law applies to him … which is exactly why we produced the recording, to offer reassurance that they had support as they watch this stuff unfold.”

The US Department of Defense has also said it is conducting a review of misconduct allegations against Kelly that could, it said, lead to his return to military service to face court-martial proceedings.