A grand jury in the nation's capital on Tuesday refused the Justice Department's attempt to indict a group of Democratic lawmakers who encouraged U.S. military members to ignore "illegal" orders. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Grand jurors declined to sign off on charges against the lawmakers, according to The Associated Press. It was not immediately clear whether prosecutors had pursued indictments against all six lawmakers or what charges they attempted to bring.
Prosecutors could still attempt to secure an indictmentto secure an indictment against the Democrats.
President Donald Trump had accused the lawmakers of being "traitors" who engaged in "sedition at the highest level" and "should be in jail." He even suggested they should be executed over the video, although he later attempted to walk that comment back.
Slotkin, who previously worked at the CIA and Defense Department, was targeted with a bomb threat just days after the clip and Trump's subsequent statements suggesting the Democrats be executed.
SEN MARK KELLY DIGS IN ON 'ILLEGAL ORDERS' STANCE, TELLS JIMMY KIMMEL HE'S 'NOT BACKING DOWN'
Prosecutors could still attempt again to secure an indictment against the Democrats. (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
"As a retired Navy Captain who is still receiving a military pension, Captain Kelly knows he is still accountable to military justice," Hegseth wrote in an X post on Jan. 5.
Kelly responded by suing Hegseth to block those proceedings, which he called an unconstitutional act of retribution.
During a hearing last week, a judge appeared to be skeptical of key arguments that a government attorney made in defense of Hegseth's move last month to censure the Arizona senator.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/grand-jury-rejects-doj-effort-indict-democratic-lawmakers-who-urged-military-defy-illegal-orders