US prosecutors fail to indict Democratic lawmakers

A grand jury has rejected an attempt by the Justice Department of President Donald Trump's administration to indict some Democratic US lawmakers after they urged members of the military not to comply with unlawful orders.

In late 2025, Trump, a Republican, assailed the Democratic lawmakers who told members of the US military in a video that they must refuse any illegal orders.

Trump called them traitors who could face execution.

The six Democratic lawmakers in the video included senator Elise Slotkin, a former CIA analyst and Iraq war veteran, senator Mark Kelly, a former astronaut and navy veteran, as well as US representatives Jason Crow, Maggie Goodlander, Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan.

The video from the Democratic lawmakers came during criticism of Trump's decisions to deploy the National Guard in US cities and authorise lethal strikes on boats suspected of smuggling drugs from Latin America.

Trump has faced criticism from rights experts over what they categorise as his administration's targeting of political opponents and deployment of federal agents and National Guard troops in cities governed by Democrats.

Trump's attempts have faced legal challenges and street protests.