Senators Condemn Trump's Failed Indictment Effort as Democratic 'Alarm'
Senators Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin have issued a stark warning, labeling the Trump administration's unsuccessful attempt to secure an indictment against six Democratic lawmakers as a "master alarm flashing for our democracy." This comes after a grand jury in Washington DC declined to bring charges on Tuesday, rejecting the administration's push to criminalize a video that urged service members to resist unlawful orders.
Grand Jury Rejects Charges Against Lawmakers
On Wednesday, during a press conference on Capitol Hill, Kelly, a retired Navy captain, emphasized that this outcome is not a positive development. "This is a story about how Donald Trump and his cronies are trying to break our system in order to silence anyone who lawfully speaks out against them," he stated. Joined by Slotkin, a former CIA analyst who organized the video, they criticized Trump's "weaponization" of the Justice Department, calling it "straight from the authoritarian playbook."
The targeted lawmakers included Kelly, Slotkin, and four House colleagues: Jason Crow of Colorado, a former Army Ranger; Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, a former Navy reservist; Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, a former Air Force officer; and Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania, a Navy veteran. The senators viewed the grand jury's decision as a strong rebuke of the US attorney's office in Washington, led by Jeanine Pirro, a longtime Trump ally and former Fox News host, which sought to criminalize their dissent.
Video Warns of Domestic Threats to Constitution
In November, the six lawmakers posted a 90-second video online, each reading a statement that cautioned active-duty service members about threats to the Constitution "from right here at home." While not specifying any particular order, the video was released amid the Trump administration's strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and as the president considered deploying troops to American cities, following actions in Los Angeles earlier in the year.
Slotkin remarked on the bravery of the grand jurors, saying, "It's just a sad moment when anonymous grand jurors, just citizens called at random in Washington DC, have more bravery to uphold basic rule of law and stand for that than some of our colleagues here in the Senate."
Legal Battles and Broader Implications
The incident has sparked legal conflicts, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth formally censuring Kelly and attempting to reduce his rank and pension. Kelly filed a lawsuit last month, arguing that the video is protected free speech and that Hegseth's actions constitute an "unconstitutional crusade." Meanwhile, Slotkin has refused to comply with Justice Department interview requests, reserving the right to sue and stating, "Being quiet doesn't actually make you safe. Going on offense seems to be the only way to get their attention."
This case is part of a trend where grand jury rejections have become more frequent during Trump's second term, as his appointees focus on politically charged cases against opponents, including former FBI director James Comey and New York attorney general Letitia James. Previous indictments against James and Comey were dismissed due to improper prosecutor appointments, with reindictment efforts failing.
Call to Uphold Free Speech and Democracy
Kelly and Slotkin warned that the administration's prosecution efforts are part of a broader campaign to stifle free speech for all Americans. "We did not ask for this. We're just the first through the breach. But you'll be damn sure that we are not going to back down," Kelly declared. He added, "The most patriotic thing that any American can do right now is to continue exercising our rights, continue speaking truth to power and not backing down."
This report highlights ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and Democratic lawmakers, underscoring concerns about democratic erosion and the protection of constitutional rights.
