DOJ Attempts to Indict Six Democratic Lawmakers Over Video Reminding Military to Refuse Illegal Orders

The Justice Department, under Trump loyalist U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, sought to indict six Democratic lawmakers (Sens. Mark Kelly, Elissa Slotkin, Maggie Goodlander, and three additional House members) for a November 2025 video reminding military service members of their duty to refuse illegal orders. Federal prosecutors attempted to charge them with violating a statute forbidding interference with military loyalty, morale, or discipline. A grand jury in Washington, D.C. roundly rejected the indictment attempt on Tuesday. The lawmakers, all military veterans or former national security personnel, denounced the effort as politically motivated targeting of Trump critics and a threat to First Amendment rights. This marked an escalation in the administration's pattern of pursuing criminal charges against political opponents, including former FBI Director James Comey and New York AG Letitia James.

"threats to our Constitution are coming from right here at home" — Statement from one of the targeted Democratic lawmakers responding to the DOJ indictment attempt