HOUSTON, United States
A federal grand jury on Tuesday declined to indict six Democratic members of US Congress over a video urging military personnel to refuse illegal orders, according to media reports.
"Today, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro attempted to persuade a Grand Jury to indict me," Sen. Elissa Slotkin said in a statement.
"This was in response to me organizing a 90-second video that simply quoted the law," Slotkin continued. "Pirro did this at the direction of President (Donald) Trump, who said repeatedly that I should be investigated, arrested, and hanged for sedition."
The video, posted last fall, angered Trump, who urged prosecutors to pursue indictments against the six Democratic lawmakers.
In the footage, fellow Democrat Sen. Mark Kelly said: "Our laws are clear ... You can refuse illegal orders."
Trump subsequently called for the lawmakers to face punishment and suggested they should be executed in a social media post.
"SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social media platform, sharing another user’s post that stated: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD!!"
Legal experts described as remarkable the decision by the US Attorney’s Office in Washington, DC, to authorize prosecutors to seek indictments against the six congressional members, all of whom previously served in the US military or intelligence agencies.
Slotkin is a former CIA analyst who held senior national security roles at the White House, State Department and Pentagon, including acting assistant secretary of defense.
Kelly is a retired US Navy captain and former NASA astronaut.
The four other lawmakers prosecutors sought to charge are Democratic members of the US House of Representatives: Jason Crow, a former Army Ranger; Maggie Goodlander, a former Navy reservist; Chrissy Houlahan, a former Air Force officer; and Chris Deluzio, a Navy veteran.
Analysts said the effort to pursue charges marked an extraordinary attempt to politicize the criminal justice system against Trump’s political adversaries.
Slotkin said the grand jury’s decision confirmed that she and her colleagues had committed no crime.
"Today, it was a grand jury of anonymous American citizens who upheld the rule of law and determined this case should not proceed," said Slotkin. "Hopefully, this ends this politicized investigation for good.”
She criticized President Trump for weaponizing the US "justice system against his perceived enemies."
"No matter what President Trump and Pirro continue to do with this case, tonight we can score one for the Constitution, our freedom of speech, and the rule of law," said Slotkin.