The Justice Department’s case focused on a 90-second video clip that featured six democrats, including Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly. The video, which outraged the Trump administration, had warned that “threats to our Constitution” are coming “from right here at home,” and repeatedly urged the military and intelligence community to “refuse illegal orders.”
The declination is a rebuke of the administration’s efforts to paint the six lawmakers — all of whom served in either the military or intelligence services — as dangerously undermining the president’s authority as commander in chief. It was not immediately clear which of the lawmakers were facing indictments. CNN has asked the Justice Department for comment.
And while the indictment was rejected by the grand jury, it is also an extraordinary escalation of the Justice Department’s willingness to prosecute who speak about against the president and his administration’s actions.
The video, posted in November, was met with immediate backlash from the Trump administration, including from the president himself who accused the lawmakers of sedition “punishable by DEATH.”
Within weeks, Slotkin and Kelly, along with Reps. Chrissy Houlahan, Chris Deluzio, Jason Crow and Maggie Goodlander, said they had been contacted by federal prosecutors as part of an investigation into their actions.
B-Z_B-S on
The fact that grand juries have chosen to not indict the people Trump is targeting shows how absolutely unjust Trump’s actions are. It’s considered extremely easy to convince a grand jury to indict.
RandCauthon99 on
More failures for the fascist DOJ.
Mikethebest78 on
sedition “punishable by DEATH?
Just as long as the jury is fair and impartial I guess. Glad to know their guilt has not been predetermined in any way.
Honest to God in 2014 I called a Trump a buffoon and laughed at him. The idea of a Trump presidency was a total joke.
That was 12 years ago. No one is laughing anymore.
accountabilitycounts on
They should have tried indicting a ham sandwich instead of a law abiding citizen.
Edit: What’s up with the network security messages?
bensquirrel on
It was a sham. The DOJ staff working on this should be ashamed of their corruption.
Golden-- on
You mean the legal statement they made? How did this even get to a jury without being thrown out?
Frequent-Client1508 on
You’re telling me it’s not illegal to tell people to follow the law? Who know?
dokidokichab on
Yeah no shit
rolfraikou on
I’m pleasantly surprised that something went well for once. I suppose the rule of law will still exist for another few days, at least.
Illuminated12 on
They would have to indict Hegseth as well if they approved. Guy has said the exact same thing on tape.
ah_no_wah on
Will Trump now charge the Grand Jury with treason?
welestgw on
Mostly because there’s no way you’d ever convict in a courtroom.
CJDistasio on
Saw that coming a mile away. Trump and his whole administration are fucking idiots.
dawgblogit on
Stupid headline.
They URGED Servicemembers to do their fucking job. To keep their oath.
If the order is illegal.. their JOB is to disobey. To protect the Constitution.
TheCzar11 on
MAHAOISM!!!! Fuck these people. They must face consequences.
lifeat24fps on
This is wild and unprecedented right? The feds usually get their indictments.
Toadfinger on
Now indict the ones that issued and followed illegal orders.
MatthewUnplugged on
There should be sanctions for frivolous grand jury presentations.
xLYONx on
Nice to see something positive!
Probable_Bison on
This headline is busted.
The DOJ failed to get an indictment.
The grand jury *declined* to indict.
FFS CNN
Inlerah on
You mean “Telling people not to do illegal things” isn’t illegal?
brianishere2 on
The grand jury didn’t fail to do anything. It did its job, and reasonably declined to issue an indictment.
PoopScootnBoogey on
Faith in humanity .025% restored.
mr_evilweed on
Well… yeah? In what world was a jury going to say that telling people to follow the law was treason?
SirRichardLove on
Indict on what fucking charge?
thex415 on
Good job grand jury!!!!
la_winky on
Because it’s a ridiculous charge. Thank you citizens for seeing the absurdity.
ArgonWolf on
I’ve always hated the phrasing “the grand jury failed to indict”. The grand jury didn’t fail at anything, the prosecutor failed to convince a captive audience that didn’t even have to hear any counter argument.
pairofdiddles on
That’s one slippery ham sandwich, I guess.
soupsupan on
Our last line of defense is the jury
entrepenurious on
the word “fails” seems so negative.
not indicting people for urging obedience to the law seems like a hugely positive thing.
Fancy-Strain7025 on
Its all falling apart for these clowns!! And I love it.
mrbeck1 on
I don’t understand, they can just keep trying to secure an indictment over and over? With the same jury? Don’t they sit for months?
MourningRIF on
It probably doesn’t help that Trump has the equivalent of divorce court lawyers prosecuting these cases at this point. All the good lawyers already quit, lol.
36 Comments
Common sense still exists.
A federal grand jury on Tuesday [declined to indict Democratic lawmakers](https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/10/politics/lawmakers-indicted-illegal-orders-video?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=missions&utm_source=reddit) who posted a video urging service members and intelligence officials to disobey any illegal orders from the Trump administration, according to two people familiar with the matter.
The Justice Department’s case focused on a 90-second video clip that featured six democrats, including Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly. The video, which outraged the Trump administration, had warned that “threats to our Constitution” are coming “from right here at home,” and repeatedly urged the military and intelligence community to “refuse illegal orders.”
The declination is a rebuke of the administration’s efforts to paint the six lawmakers — all of whom served in either the military or intelligence services — as dangerously undermining the president’s authority as commander in chief. It was not immediately clear which of the lawmakers were facing indictments. CNN has asked the Justice Department for comment.
And while the indictment was rejected by the grand jury, it is also an extraordinary escalation of the Justice Department’s willingness to prosecute who speak about against the president and his administration’s actions.
The video, posted in November, was met with immediate backlash from the Trump administration, including from the president himself who accused the lawmakers of sedition “punishable by DEATH.”
Within weeks, Slotkin and Kelly, along with Reps. Chrissy Houlahan, Chris Deluzio, Jason Crow and Maggie Goodlander, said they had been contacted by federal prosecutors as part of an investigation into their actions.
The fact that grand juries have chosen to not indict the people Trump is targeting shows how absolutely unjust Trump’s actions are. It’s considered extremely easy to convince a grand jury to indict.
More failures for the fascist DOJ.
sedition “punishable by DEATH?
Just as long as the jury is fair and impartial I guess. Glad to know their guilt has not been predetermined in any way.
Honest to God in 2014 I called a Trump a buffoon and laughed at him. The idea of a Trump presidency was a total joke.
That was 12 years ago. No one is laughing anymore.
They should have tried indicting a ham sandwich instead of a law abiding citizen.
Edit: What’s up with the network security messages?
It was a sham. The DOJ staff working on this should be ashamed of their corruption.
You mean the legal statement they made? How did this even get to a jury without being thrown out?
You’re telling me it’s not illegal to tell people to follow the law? Who know?
Yeah no shit
I’m pleasantly surprised that something went well for once. I suppose the rule of law will still exist for another few days, at least.
They would have to indict Hegseth as well if they approved. Guy has said the exact same thing on tape.
Will Trump now charge the Grand Jury with treason?
Mostly because there’s no way you’d ever convict in a courtroom.
Saw that coming a mile away. Trump and his whole administration are fucking idiots.
Stupid headline.
They URGED Servicemembers to do their fucking job. To keep their oath.
If the order is illegal.. their JOB is to disobey. To protect the Constitution.
MAHAOISM!!!! Fuck these people. They must face consequences.
This is wild and unprecedented right? The feds usually get their indictments.
Now indict the ones that issued and followed illegal orders.
There should be sanctions for frivolous grand jury presentations.
Nice to see something positive!
This headline is busted.
The DOJ failed to get an indictment.
The grand jury *declined* to indict.
FFS CNN
You mean “Telling people not to do illegal things” isn’t illegal?
The grand jury didn’t fail to do anything. It did its job, and reasonably declined to issue an indictment.
Faith in humanity .025% restored.
Well… yeah? In what world was a jury going to say that telling people to follow the law was treason?
Indict on what fucking charge?
Good job grand jury!!!!
Because it’s a ridiculous charge. Thank you citizens for seeing the absurdity.
I’ve always hated the phrasing “the grand jury failed to indict”. The grand jury didn’t fail at anything, the prosecutor failed to convince a captive audience that didn’t even have to hear any counter argument.
That’s one slippery ham sandwich, I guess.
Our last line of defense is the jury
the word “fails” seems so negative.
not indicting people for urging obedience to the law seems like a hugely positive thing.
Its all falling apart for these clowns!! And I love it.
I don’t understand, they can just keep trying to secure an indictment over and over? With the same jury? Don’t they sit for months?
It probably doesn’t help that Trump has the equivalent of divorce court lawyers prosecuting these cases at this point. All the good lawyers already quit, lol.