Grand jury declines to indict Democrats asking troops to refuse illegal orders

The Guardian - World NewsEN 3 min read 100% complete by Dani AnguianoFebruary 11, 2026 at 03:44 AM

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

A Washington DC grand jury declined to indict six Democratic lawmakers, including Elissa Slotkin and Mark Kelly, who created a video advising troops to refuse illegal orders. The lawmakers, all with military or intelligence backgrounds, faced potential charges after Donald Trump denounced the video as "seditious." Pete Hegseth, the defense secretary, also censured Kelly and attempted to reduce his rank and pension, prompting a lawsuit from Kelly alleging a violation of free speech. The lawmakers maintained that the video simply reiterated existing law, while Slotkin accused Trump of weaponizing the justice system against his political opponents. The Department of Justice had requested to interview Slotkin, but she refused and threatened to sue.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Department of Justice 40% Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) 50% Chrissy Houlahan 60% Jason Crow 60% Chris Deluzio 60% Maggie Goodlander 60% United States ×270% Pete Hegseth ×370% Jeanine Pirro ×270% Mark Kelly ×580% Elissa Slotkin ×580% Donald Trump ×690%

Keywords

donald trump 90% illegal orders 80% mark kelly 70% grand jury 70% elissa slotkin 70% free speech 60% refuse orders 60% pete hegseth 60% rule of law 50% political prosecution 50%