Last fall, six Democratic members of Congress who have served in either the military or intelligence community released a video in which they told active duty members of the U.S. military to refuse unlawful orders. President Donald Trump responded by accusing the six of “seditious behavior” and suggesting the lawmakers be “hanged.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, led by Trump appointee Jeanine Pirro, worked to indict all six lawmakers.
One of the six, Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) reported today: “Today, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro attempted to persuade a Grand Jury to indict me. This was in response to me organizing a 90-second video that simply quoted the law. Pirro did this at the direction of President Trump, who said repeatedly that I should be investigated, arrested, and hanged for sedition. Today, it was a grand jury of anonymous American citizens who upheld the rule of law and determined this case should not proceed.”
Today, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro attempted to persuade a Grand Jury to indict me. This was in response to me organizing a 90-second video that simply quoted the law. Pirro did this at the direction of President Trump, who said repeatedly that I should be investigated, arrested,…
— Sen. Elissa Slotkin (@SenatorSlotkin) February 11, 2026
Slotkin added: “Hopefully, this ends this politicized investigation for good. But today wasn’t just an embarrassing day for the Administration. It was another sad day for our country.”
Slotkin’s Republican colleague, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), also responded to the news.
Tillis wrote: “Political lawfare waged by either side undermines America’s criminal justice system, which is the gold standard of the world. Thankfully in this instance, a jury saw the attempted indictments for what they really were. Political lawfare is not normal, not acceptable, and needs to stop.”
Political lawfare waged by either side undermines America’s criminal justice system, which is the gold standard of the world. Thankfully in this instance, a jury saw the attempted indictments for what they really were. Political lawfare is not normal, not acceptable, and needs to…
— Senator Thom Tillis (@SenThomTillis) February 11, 2026
Note: Tillis is not running for re-election this year. Trump-endorsed RNC chair Michael Whatley and former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper are the leading contenders in the 2026 North Carolina election. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) — one of the six indicted — has been campaigning with Cooper, who has also been endorsed by former Vice President Kamala Harris.