Trump ally pushed to charge the so-called Seditious Six Democrats, then the case collapsed in a single room

Federal prosecutors failed to secure indictments against six Democratic members of Congress after a grand jury declined to bring charges, blocking an attempt to pursue a controversial case. The rejection came Tuesday, marking a significant setback for the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington.

As reported by The New York Times, prosecutors sought to charge the lawmakers under a statute that prohibits interfering with the loyalty, morale, or discipline of the U.S. armed forces. The effort was authorized by the office led by Jeanine Pirro, a longtime ally of President Trump.

The case centered on an online video the lawmakers posted last fall, reminding active-duty military members and intelligence officials of their obligation to refuse illegal orders. The video did not reference a specific operation but was released as President Trump authorized strikes against suspected drug boats in the Caribbean and weighed deploying active-duty troops to American cities.

Grand jury declines to indict six Democratic lawmakers

The six Democrats include Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, a Navy veteran and former astronaut, and Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, a former C.I.A. analyst who served multiple tours in Iraq. The House members are Jason Crow, a former Army Ranger; Maggie Goodlander, a former Navy reservist; Chrissy Houlahan, a former Air Force officer; and Chris Deluzio, a Navy veteran. The broader climate around the case tracked with other political reporting tied to the worst-ever corruption ranking.

Organized by Slotkin, the video featured the lawmakers reading a statement cautioning that “threats to our Constitution aren’t just coming from abroad, but from right here at home.” Kelly stated in the video, “Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders.”

President Trump criticized the video and demanded that the lawmakers be punished, posting on social media that their actions constituted “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!!” He also shared another user’s post calling for them to be hanged.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also condemned the group on social media in November, referring to them as the “Seditious Six.” He said their video was “despicable, reckless, and false,” and claimed it encouraged troops to ignore the orders of their commanders. The episode unfolded alongside wider online reaction to the surveillance tech Super Bowl ad.

Days after the video was released, the lawmakers disclosed that federal investigators had contacted the House and Senate sergeants-at-arms seeking interviews, confirming a criminal investigation was underway. The four House members issued a joint statement accusing the president of using the F.B.I. to intimidate members of Congress and said they would continue to fulfill their duties.

Grand juries rarely refuse prosecutors’ requests for indictments, but in this case, the panel declined to charge the six lawmakers, ending the effort at the investigative stage.