US: Grand Jury Declines to Indict Democratic Lawmakers
Does this prosecution reflect a dangerous abuse of power or accountability for seditious behavior?
Above: The Department of Justice building in Washington, DC, on Feb. 6. Image credit: Aaron Schwartz/Bloomberg/Getty Images
The Spin
Democratic narrative
Attempting to indict lawmakers for protected speech is a dangerous weaponization of the justice system against opponents. The grand jury's refusal to indict proves this was an outrageous abuse of power, reminiscent of authoritarian regimes rather than American democracy. This administration continues targeting critics with criminal charges simply for exercising First Amendment rights.
Republican narrative
Lawmakers who publicly urged military personnel to disobey presidential orders committed seditious behavior that demands serious legal consequences. These so-called leaders dangerously encouraged service members to defy lawful commands from their commander-in-chief. The grand jury decision doesn't change the fact that this was a crime of serious proportion.
