"Honest, paywall-free news is rare. Please support our boldly independent journalism with a donation A federal grand jury on Tuesday declined to go along with an effort by the Trump Justice Department to indict Democratic lawmakers involved in a November video reminding members of the US military of their duty to refuse illegal orders, a message that came as President Donald Trump deployed troops to major American cities."
"The failed attempt to indict the six Democratic lawmakers was led by Trump loyalist Jeanine Pirro, a former Fox News host who is now serving as US attorney for the District of Columbia. The New York Times reported that federal prosecutors "sought to persuade the grand jurors that the lawmakers had violated a statute that forbids interfering with the loyalty, morale, or discipline of the US armed forces.""
"Trump, who has repeatedly weaponized the Justice Department against his political opponents, erupted in response to the 90-second video, accusing the Democratic lawmakers behind it of "seditious behavior, punishable by death." The lawmakers who appeared in the video were Sens. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan as well as Reps. Jason Crow of Colorado, Chrissy Houlahan and Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania, and Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire."
A federal grand jury refused to indict six Democratic lawmakers after the Justice Department sought charges tied to a November video urging military members to refuse illegal orders. The prosecution was led by U.S. attorney Jeanine Pirro, who aimed to show the lawmakers violated a statute forbidding interference with military loyalty, morale, or discipline. President Trump responded angrily to the 90-second video, calling the lawmakers' actions "seditious behavior, punishable by death." The lawmakers named include Sens. Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin and Reps. Jason Crow, Chrissy Houlahan, Chris Deluzio, and Maggie Goodlander. Legal observers called the DOJ action alarming.
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