Democrat targeted by Trump attacks ‘authoritarian’ effort to intimidate critics

Elissa Slotkin, under investigation over Pentagon video, says president using ‘well-worn playbook’ to silence debate

Donald Trump is borrowing a strategy from authoritarian regimes to intimidate potential critics and discourage them from speaking out, according to a senator under investigation by his administration.

Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat from Michigan, faces questioning after she organised and appeared in a video with other Democrats imploring military service members to refuse “illegal orders”. Fellow senator Mark Kelly and three Democrats from the House of Representatives are also being investigated.