Federal Grand Jury Rejects DOJ Request to Indict Democratic Lawmakers
In a significant legal development, a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., has declined a Department of Justice request to indict six Democratic members of Congress. The decision, highlighted by MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell on Wednesday, marks another setback for former President Donald Trump's efforts to silence his critics through the justice system.
Senator Mark Kelly Responds to the Grand Jury's Decision
Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), one of the targeted lawmakers, appeared on O’Donnell's "Last Word" to discuss the case. He expressed a mix of triumph and concern, noting that the grand jury's refusal underscores the importance of constitutional principles. "This just means follow the law," Kelly stated, referencing a video he and his colleagues released last year. In that video, they urged U.S. service members to "refuse illegal orders," a message grounded in the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Kelly criticized Trump's reaction to the video, which the former president labeled as "seditious" and "punishable by DEATH!" "Donald Trump and people around him don’t like when somebody presents something that he doesn’t agree with," Kelly said. "He thinks he should be allowed to do and give whatever order he wants because he’s a wannabe dictator."
Details of the DOJ's Failed Indictment Attempt
The DOJ sought indictments against Kelly and five other Democrats: Senator Elissa Slotkin (Mich.) and Representatives Chris Deluzio (Pa.), Maggie Goodlander (N.H.), Chrissy Houlahan (Pa.), and Jason Crow (Colo.). Their video merely echoed Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which states that service members will be punished for failing to obey "any lawful" order.
Kelly revealed that he and his peers had advance warning about the potential indictments. He alleged that Trump, along with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, viewed jail or prison time for the six Democrats as the "goal." Kelly described learning the news while pulling up to his home. "I was on the phone with my chief of staff when she got the word from our attorney that they tried to do this," he recalled.
Grand Jury's Role and Broader Implications
O’Donnell noted with pride that "just citizens reporting for jury duty" had declined the indictment, emphasizing the role of ordinary Americans in upholding justice. Kelly acknowledged this but remained cautious. "Yeah, this time," he replied. "We’ll see if they keep pressing here. They’ve got a reputation. This president doesn’t like to lose, though he seems to have made a habit of it lately, especially as he uses his justice system as a weapon against people that he disagrees with."
Kelly detailed the escalating threats against him and his colleagues, from Trump's initial calls for hanging and execution to the current prosecutorial phase. He also mentioned a separate case with the Navy, where Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced plans last month to downgrade Kelly's retired U.S. Navy captain rank and pension over the video. Kelly has sued Hegseth, pointing out that the defense secretary once agreed with the video's message.
A Call for Unity and Defense of American Values
In a press conference earlier on Wednesday, Kelly and Slotkin emphasized that the issue extends beyond their personal cases. "This isn’t about just the two of us," Kelly said. "This is about 350 million Americans who this president will go after and try to silence if he doesn’t like what comes out of their mouths — and this is wrong, and it’s un-American."
He concluded with a firm commitment to continue the fight. "So, for that reason, we’re in it to the end," Kelly declared, highlighting the broader struggle against the weaponization of justice for political purposes.
