A Washington DC grand jury has declined to indict six Democratic lawmakers who were condemned by Donald Trump after they made a video urging troops to reject illegal orders.
Federal prosecutors have sought an indictment against him Democrats Participants in the video include Elissa Slotkin, Mark Kelly, Jason Crowe, Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander and Chrissy Houlahan, all of whom have military and intelligence backgrounds.
Slotkin, a former CIA officer, organized it Video Lawmakers said authorities could block illegal orders. Trump expressed outrage at the clip and described it as “treasonous conduct by traitors” “punishable by death”.
Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defence Officially denied Kelly, a retired NASA astronaut and decorated Navy captain, was sued over the incident and sought to have his rank and pension reduced. Kelly Filed a claim Last month he and other Democrats filed a lawsuit against Hegseth, arguing that the video violated free speech and that the secretary was on an “unconstitutional crusade” against him.
In response to news of the failed impeachment, Kelly described it as an “abuse of power by Donald Trump and his flaws.”
“It wasn’t enough for Pete Hegseth to accuse me and threaten to demote me, now it looks like they’ve tried to frame me for a crime – I told them they didn’t like it,” Kelly said. Said. “That’s not the way it works in America. Donald Trump wants every American to be too afraid to speak out against him. The most patriotic thing any of us can do is not back down.”
The video “merely quoted the law,” Slotkin said in a statement Tuesday, and US Attorney Jeanine Pirro tried to persuade a grand jury to indict her at Trump’s direction.
“Today, it was a grand jury of anonymous American citizens who upheld the rule of law and decided not to pursue this case,” Slatkin said, describing it as “another sad day for our country.” “Because whether Piro wins or not is not the point. President Trump continues to weaponize our legal system against his perceived enemies. It’s the kind of thing you see in a foreign country, not in the United States we know and love.”
The Department of Justice recently requested an interview with Slotkin, the Michigan senator announced last month. Slotkin said she sent a letter to Bondi and Pirro informing them that she would not abide by their inquiries and asked them to keep their records in case she decided to file a lawsuit.
“I’m not going to legitimize their actions,” Slatkin said. “Our Constitution is clear on the issue of freedom of speech – it needs to be fought for. To be honest, many lawyers have told me to keep quiet, keep my head down and hope it all goes away.
“But that’s exactly it Trump administration And want Jeanine Pirro. They are deliberately using physical and legal threats to silence me. But, more importantly, they use those threats to prevent others from speaking out against their administration.
The Trump administration has often sought to weaponize the justice system against political opponents and critics of the White House, including the former FBI director. James Comey And Letitia JamesNew York Attorney General. A federal grand jury twice declined to indict James, but dismissed the case against Comey after a judge found the prosecutor improperly appointed.
