DC grand jury rejects DOJ indictment of 6 Democratic lawmakers

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Welcome to The Logoff: The Trump administration’s newest try and go after Democratic lawmakers is falling flat.

What occurred? On Tuesday night, we realized {that a} Washington, DC, grand jury had rejected costs sought by the Justice Division towards six Democratic lawmakers — Sens. Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin, and Reps. Jason Crow, Maggie Goodlander, Chrissy Houlahan, and Chris Deluzio. Their alleged crime? Filming a video reminding soldiers that they can refuse unlawful orders .

Why does this matter? We don’t know what costs Jeanine Pirro, the US lawyer for DC, tried to carry, however the resolution to take action, and the failure to take action efficiently, are each exceptional.

Whereas Trump described the video as “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!” in a social media put up shortly after it was launched, it’s not clear what sort of legal statute lawmakers might have violated. That stated, till just lately, it was additionally extremely uncommon for a grand jury to reject costs introduced by a prosecutor.

The DOJ’s twin failures are a pointed reminder that the division, which is historically nonpartisan, has turn into extremely politicized — and markedly incompetent.

What’s the context? The Trump administration has additionally tried to punish Kelly, a retired Navy captain, for the video by means of the army justice system, together with threatening a court-martial; presently, it’s attempting to scale back his rank and pay.

And Kelly and the opposite Democrats aren’t alone in being focused by Trump’s DOJ. Final yr, indictments towards each former FBI director James Comey and New York state Legal professional Basic Letitia James had been dismissed after a decide concluded the US lawyer who introduced them was improperly appointed to her position.

What’s the massive image? Trump has huge ambitions for punishing his enemies, and a distinctly flustered Capitol Hill efficiency by Legal professional Basic Pam Bondi on Wednesday means that the strain may be very a lot nonetheless on. However up to now, they preserve failing — and that, as my colleague Zack Beauchamp wrote last year , is a cheering prospect.

And with that, it’s time to sign off…

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