Grand Jury Rejects Indictment of Lawmakers Encouraging Military to Disobey Illegal Orders

A grand jury in Washington, D.C., decided on Tuesday not to proceed with the indictment of a group of Democratic lawmakers who had urged U.S. military personnel to refuse “illegal” orders in an online video. This decision marks a significant moment in the ongoing investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ) into the video, where six Democratic lawmakers appealed to military members and intelligence professionals to defy unlawful directives from the government.

The lawmakers involved were Senators Elissa Slotkin from Michigan and Mark Kelly of Arizona, along with Representatives Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan from Pennsylvania, Maggie Goodlander from New Hampshire, and Jason Crow from Colorado. Each of these individuals has a background in the military or intelligence agencies.

“This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens,” stated the lawmakers in the video. “Like us, you all swore an oath to protect and defend this Constitution. Right now, the threats to our Constitution aren’t just external but also from within. Our laws are clear: you can refuse illegal orders. You must refuse illegal orders. No one is obliged to execute orders that violate the law or our Constitution.”

The Associated Press reported that the grand jury chose not to approve charges against the lawmakers, although it’s unclear if all six were subject to indictment attempts or what specific charges were considered. However, the DOJ may still seek to obtain an indictment against them.

Former President Donald Trump accused the lawmakers of “sedition at the highest level” and labeled them as “traitors,” suggesting that they should face severe consequences, including imprisonment. In the aftermath of the video and Trump’s remarks, Slotkin, who has a history with the CIA and Defense Department, received a bomb threat.

Slotkin responded to the grand jury’s decision, remarking, “Tonight we can score one for the Constitution, our freedom of speech, and the rule of law. But today wasn’t just an embarrassing day for the Administration. It was another sad day for our country.”

Senator Kelly, a former Navy pilot, expressed his outrage at the attempted charges, describing them as an “outrageous abuse of power by Donald Trump and his associates.” Kelly emphasized the importance of not backing down as a patriotic act against attempts to stifle dissent.

In November, an investigation by the Pentagon into Senator Kelly was initiated, citing potential consequences for his involvement in the video, including possible recall to active duty for court-martial. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth pursued demotion for Kelly from his retired rank of captain, criticizing his role in promoting adherence to lawful standards of military conduct.

Reacting to these developments, Kelly sued Hegseth, arguing that the actions against him were unconstitutional retribution.

During a recent hearing, a judge expressed skepticism toward the arguments put forth by government attorneys justifying Hegseth’s actions against the senator.