WASHINGTON, Feb 11 : Federal prosecutors on Tuesday did not secure charges against six Democratic lawmakers who had encouraged US service members to reject unlawful commands, drawing sharp criticism from President Donald Trump, according to American media reports.
Citing sources familiar with the proceedings, The New York Times and The Washington Post reported that a Washington-based federal grand jury declined the Justice Department’s effort to indict the legislators. The panel, made up of local citizens, found insufficient grounds to move forward with the case.
The controversy stems from a 90 second video shared on social media in November, in which members of Congress urged military personnel to “refuse illegal orders,” describing the message as rooted in existing law. Those featured included Senators Mark Kelly of Arizona and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, along with Representatives Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio, Chrissy Houlahan and Maggie Goodlander all of whom have backgrounds in the armed forces or intelligence community.
Responding after the decision, Slotkin said the video merely cited legal obligations and expressed hope that the outcome would bring an end to what she characterised as a politically driven probe.
Legal observers noted the rarity of such an outcome, as prosecutors typically need only demonstrate probable cause a relatively low bar to obtain an indictment from a grand jury.
While the lawmakers did not reference specific directives, the issue unfolded amid Trump’s expansive use of military authority during his second term, including deploying the National Guard in American cities to support immigration enforcement despite opposition from several local officials. The administration has also authorised overseas strikes that critics argue raise legal concerns.
Trump reacted furiously after the video gained traction, posting on Truth Social that those urging troops to defy his orders were “traitors” who should be jailed, later describing the episode as “sedition at the highest level.” In a separate message, he warned such conduct was “punishable by death.”
The Pentagon had also weighed the possibility of court-martial proceedings against Kelly, a former astronaut, marking an unusual escalation. Meanwhile, Democratic leaders accused the administration of attempting to pressure lawmakers, saying the FBI sought interviews with them following their public criticism of the president.