Elissa Slotkin calls backlash to threat of prosecution comments 'manufactured outrage'

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Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., called the backlash against her comments that the threat of prosecution could deter young people from working for the Trump administration "manufactured outrage" during television interviews Monday.

During an Oct. 13 University of Chicago event, Slotkin drew criticism after a clip went viral showing her saying she wants to pursue "signature cases" against people who "enabled" President Donald Trump and push a "deterrence message" for young people.

"I want young people coming out of school to say, ‘Should I go work for the Trump administration? Like, that sounds fun, I might get an opportunity.’ I want them to be like, ‘Lord, that might be buying myself a ton of problems that I don’t want, and so let me avoid participating in that,’" she said. "I want that deterrence message," Slotkin said.

While speaking with CNN's Jake Tapper on Monday, Slotkin responded to a comment from Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, who wrote that it was "absolutely disgraceful" to "threaten young Americans for participating in politics and serving their country" with legal retribution.

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"Yeah, well, look, that’s manufactured outrage," Slotkin responded. "That’s his specialty. I think the thing that I’ve heard from my own Republican colleagues and peers, including interns and folks who work around the Hill who come to our events, they’ll tell you, 'I was worried. My parents were worried, you know. It’s really messy. I’m not sure what to get involved in.' Politics, in general, has become messy." 

"But, you know, when you’re being forced by this administration, for instance, to sign a contract that is given over to a company that Trump Jr. is on the board of, and you know that that’s a problem," she added. 

Slotkin then referenced her viral video from 2025, in which she and five other Democratic lawmakers urged military members to "refuse illegal orders." She claimed that in both circumstances she was only encouraging people to reject illegal activity.

"My point is, do not get yourself involved in illegal activity," she said. "It’s the same thing I was talking about a year ago. Whether you’re the uniformed military or a civilian in government, if you’re being asked to do something by the president or his team, that’s illegal, you have a responsibility to reject that. That is my point, and that was the point I was trying to make."

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Fox News Digital reached out to Lee's office for comment but did not immediately receive a response. 

The White House referred Fox News Digital to Trump's previous comments on Slotkin.

"That's a hell of a statement. Slotkin said that there should be prosecutions in order to scare people from going into politics. That's a Democrat and that's what they do. That's all they're good at — and you know what? That's why they're getting their a--es kicked," Trump said.

Slotkin reiterated that she had no intention of targeting people for prosecution solely because of their political affiliation and only cared about people "breaking the law."

"If you are violating the law, then you should be held accountable, and that includes people who are supporting that activity. That’s the point I was trying to make. You’re not breaking the law? No problem. We can have disagreements all day long, and certainly Democrats and Republicans do. I don’t care if it’s just freedom of speech. I care if you’re breaking the law," Slotkin told CNN.

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During a separate interview on MS NOW, Slotkin suggested some of the backlash she received from Republican critics could be attributed to her gender.

"I think when you choose to call out their corruption, they clearly don't like that," Slotkin said on MS NOW's "Deadline: White House." "They're clearly trying to change the conversation given what the midterms are and the state of the economy, the state of things around the country. I do think there's something about being a woman and criticizing them and calling them out on that corruption that really gets under their skin, obviously, or they wouldn't respond." 

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When reached for comment, Slotkin's office directed Fox News Digital to her comments in the MS NOW interview.

Lindsay Kornick is an associate editor for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to lindsay.kornick@fox.com and on Twitter: @lmkornick.