Washington, DC → U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin said Tuesday, Feb. 10, that a grand jury declined to move forward with a case connected to a video she helped organize that discussed the responsibility of military personnel to follow lawful orders.
In a public statement, Slotkin said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro attempted to persuade a grand jury to indict her over the video, which she described as a 90-second message quoting existing law. She characterized the investigation as politically driven and said she believed it stemmed from repeated calls by Donald Trump to have her investigated.
Slotkin said the grand jury’s decision not to proceed reaffirmed what she sees as the importance of constitutional protections.
“Today, it was a grand jury of anonymous American citizens who upheld the rule of law and determined this case should not proceed,” she wrote, adding that she hopes the matter is now resolved.
She framed the situation as part of a broader concern about the use of the justice system in political disputes, calling it “a sad day for our country” regardless of the outcome. Slotkin also said the decision represented “one for the Constitution, our freedom of speech, and the rule of law.”
The controversy surrounding the video began after it circulated online and sparked debate over her message referencing the duty of service members to refuse unlawful orders. Slotkin has maintained that the video was focused on existing legal principles and did not allege that any illegal orders had been given.
A former CIA officer and national security official before entering Congress, Slotkin has often referenced her background in intelligence and defense matters when addressing military and constitutional issues.
For now, the grand jury’s decision appears to bring the legal question to a close, though the political debate over the video and its intent continues.
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