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A group of Democrat lawmakers labeled by Donald Trump as engaging in “subversive conduct” have claimed that the president is employing the FBI to target them as a “instrument to pressure and threaten congressional representatives.”

The group of four elected officials, together with two additional members, had created a recorded message urging American troops to resist illegal commands – a message that angered Trump, who posted on social media that the group were “disloyal citizens” and thus could be jailed or even face the death penalty.

An announcement, released by US representatives Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan, and Maggie Goodlander, confirmed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation had reached out to the Congressional security officials requesting interviews with them.

“No amount of intimidation or harassment 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 Constitution of the United States.

“That commitment is permanent, and we intend to keep it. We will not be bullied. We will never give up the ship,” they continued.

The statement deepens a dispute between the Trump administration and Democratic leaders, including the senator from Arizona and ex-astronaut Mark Kelly and the Michigan representative Representative Slotkin, over the recorded appeal, which advised the military and intelligence services members to “disregard unlawful commands.”

Slotkin said the counter-terrorism unit of the FBI had notified the group that “they are opening what appears to be an inquiry against the six of us” and described the action as a “intimidation strategy” by Trump.

“To be honest, the leader’s response and the deployment of the FBI to target us is exactly why we created the message,” she said.

“He believes in using the US government to oppose those he views as opponents, and he’s willing to employ the government agencies 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 Pentagon has also said it is conducting a review of misconduct allegations involving the senator that might, it said, lead to his return to military service to undergo a military trial.