A federal grand jury delivered a stunning rebuke to the Justice Department this week, refusing to indict six Democratic lawmakers with military backgrounds despite intense pressure from the Trump administration to prosecute them for sedition.
Story Snapshot
- Federal grand jury declines to indict six Democratic lawmakers accused of sedition by President Trump
- Lawmakers with military and intelligence backgrounds posted video urging service members to refuse illegal orders
- Justice Department suffers rare grand jury rejection in politically charged case
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth separately pursues retaliation against Sen. Mark Kelly through military rank demotion
Grand Jury Rejects Sedition Charges
The federal grand jury on Tuesday refused to indict six Democratic congressional members who posted a November 2025 video warning military personnel about potential illegal orders from the Trump administration. Senators Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Mark Kelly of Arizona, along with Representatives Chrissy Houlahan, Chris Deluzio, Jason Crow, and Maggie Goodlander faced Justice Department scrutiny after President Trump labeled their statements “seditious” and demanded arrests. All six lawmakers share distinguished military or intelligence service backgrounds, lending credibility to their constitutional concerns. The grand jury’s declination represents a rare institutional check on what appears to be politically motivated prosecution.
Trump Administration Pressure Campaign
President Trump publicly accused the lawmakers of sedition “punishable by DEATH” after they released a 90-second video in November warning of “threats to our Constitution from right here at home.” Federal prosecutors contacted all six members within weeks of the video’s release, launching an investigation that culminated in the Justice Department presenting its case to a grand jury. The declination follows similar grand jury rejections in other Trump-related political prosecutions, including cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. This pattern reveals growing institutional resistance to weaponizing criminal charges against political opponents, a practice Americans rightly associate with authoritarian regimes rather than constitutional republics.
Constitutional Speech Versus Political Retaliation
The lawmakers’ video explicitly urged service members to honor their oath to the Constitution by refusing illegal orders, a legally protected and morally essential principle of military service. Senator Slotkin condemned the administration’s attempt to “weaponize our justice system against his perceived enemies,” while Senator Kelly called the retaliation “outrageous abuse of power” and emphasized “that’s not the way things work in America.” Their military credentials underscore a critical distinction: these aren’t partisan activists but veterans who understand chain-of-command and constitutional duties. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth escalated matters further by pursuing Kelly’s military rank demotion and censure, actions now facing federal court challenge with a ruling expected this week.
Broader Implications for Justice and Liberty
The grand jury’s decision highlights fundamental tensions between presidential authority and constitutional limits that concern all Americans who value individual liberty and rule of law. Grand juries rarely decline indictments, making this rejection particularly significant as an independent check on executive overreach. A federal judge has already expressed skepticism about Hegseth’s actions against Kelly, noting potential First Amendment violations. While conservatives support strong presidential leadership, prosecuting political speech undermines the very freedoms our military swears to defend. The Justice Department’s silence following this embarrassing defeat speaks volumes about the weakness of its case and the danger of transforming law enforcement into a political weapon against dissent.
Sources:
Grand jury declines criminal charges against 6 Democrats, sources say – CBS News
