A grand jury in Washington, D.C., has blocked the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) attempt to indict a group of Democrat lawmakers who appeared in a video encouraging U.S. military members and intelligence personnel to ignore what they described as “illegal” orders.
The DOJ had opened an investigation into the video, which featured the “Seditious Six” Democrat lawmakers, each with military or intelligence backgrounds, calling on service members to defy unlawful directives from the federal government.
Those lawmakers were Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), and Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO).
The Democrats have been accused of sedition, earning the group the name the “Seditious Six.”
“This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens,” the lawmakers said in the video.
“Like us, you all swore an oath to protect and defend this Constitution.
“Right now, the threats coming to our Constitution aren’t just coming from abroad but from right here at home.
“Our laws are clear,” they claim in their appeal to American troops.
“You can refuse illegal orders.
“You must refuse illegal orders.
“No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution.”
According to The Associated Press, grand jurors declined to approve charges. It was not immediately clear whether prosecutors sought indictments against all six lawmakers or which specific charges were pursued.
Prosecutors could still attempt to seek an indictment in the future.
Trump Condemns Lawmakers, Democrats Respond
President Donald Trump previously accused the lawmakers of being “traitors” who engaged in “sedition at the highest level” and “should be in jail.”
He also suggested they should be executed over the video.
Slotkin, who previously worked at the CIA and the Defense Department, was targeted with a bomb threat days after the clip circulated.
The Democrat senator attempted to blame Trump’s comments for the threat, rather than her own actions.
In a statement following the grand jury’s decision, Slotkin said:
“Tonight, we can score one for the Constitution, our freedom of speech, and the rule of law.
“But today wasn’t just an embarrassing day for the Administration. It was another sad day for our country.”
Kelly, a former Navy pilot, called the attempted prosecution an abuse of power.
“Donald Trump wants every American to be too scared to speak out against him,” Kelly said on X.
“The most patriotic thing any of us can do is not back down.”
He also claims that the charges are an “outrageous abuse of power by Donald Trump and his lackeys.”
Pentagon Investigation and Legal Fight
In November, the Pentagon launched an investigation into Kelly, citing a federal law that allows retired service members to be recalled to active duty on orders of the secretary for possible court-martial or other punishment.
War Secretary Pete Hegseth censured Kelly and is attempting to retroactively demote him from his retired rank of captain over participation in the video.
“As a retired Navy Captain who is still receiving a military pension, Captain Kelly knows he is still accountable to military justice,” Hegseth wrote in an X post on Jan. 5.
Kelly has sued Hegseth to block the proceedings, calling the move unconstitutional retaliation.
During a hearing last week, a judge appeared skeptical of key arguments offered by a government attorney defending Hegseth’s censure.
The legal and political battle surrounding the video remains ongoing despite the grand jury’s refusal to indict.
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