Overview
- A Washington, D.C., grand jury unanimously declined to indict six Democratic lawmakers over a video advising service members to refuse unlawful orders, an uncommon no-bill in a high-profile federal case.
- U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled the video “unquestionably protected” by the First Amendment and issued a preliminary injunction shielding Sen. Mark Kelly from a threatened demotion by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
- Defense attorney Preet Bharara said prosecutors could not identify any statute the lawmakers allegedly violated when asked before the rushed charging attempt.
- Reporting says U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro abruptly instructed prosecutors to seek an indictment under a statute on interfering with military loyalty or discipline; her office has since set the inquiry aside though it could be revisited elsewhere in DOJ.
- Pirro’s team relied on two outside lawyers with little Justice Department experience, fueling criticism of irregular process and deepening concerns about politicized charging decisions inside the department.