❓WHAT HAPPENED: A grand jury in Washington, D.C., declined to indict six Democrat lawmakers over a video urging military and intelligence community members to defy “illegal orders.”
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Representatives Jason Crow (D-CO), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), and Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), alongside U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The indictment decision occurred on Tuesday in Washington, D.C.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Today, it was a grand jury of anonymous American citizens who upheld the rule of law and determined this case should not proceed.” – Elissa Slotkin
🎯IMPACT: The grand jury’s decision halts federal prosecution efforts, leaving the lawmakers unindicted for now.
A Washington, D.C. grand jury declined to hand down indictments for the six Democrat lawmakers who produced a video aimed at encouraging U.S. military personnel and members of the intelligence community to defy what they termed “illegal orders.” The federal indictment was pursued by Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.
The video, which was released last November following U.S. military strikes on drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean, featured Representatives Jason Crow (D-CO), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), and Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI). In the video, the lawmakers stated, “We know you are under enormous stress and pressure right now, Americans trust their military, but that trust is at risk. This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens like us. You all swore an oath to protect and defend this constitution.”
President Trump called the video “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!” in a post on Truth Social at the time. Federal prosecutors sought to charge the lawmakers under a law prohibiting interference with the U.S. military’s loyalty, morale, or discipline. Notably, the Department of War proceedings against Sen. Kelly—who is a retired Navy captain—remain ongoing.
In response to the grand jury’s decision, Sen. Slotkin posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Today, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro attempted to persuade a Grand Jury to indict me. This was in response to me organizing a 90-second video that simply quoted the law. Pirro did this at the direction of President Trump, who said repeatedly that I should be investigated, arrested, and hanged for sedition. Today, it was a grand jury of anonymous American citizens who upheld the rule of law and determined this case should not proceed.”
The National Pulse reported last week that Slotkin stated that she will not comply with a Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation into the video.
Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.