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Holly Today
By the People, for the People
Slotkin, Kelly Accuse Trump of 'Weaponizing' Justice System After Failed Indictment
Democratic senators say Trump is abusing his power and using scare tactics to intimidate detractors.
Published on Feb. 11, 2026
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U.S. Senators Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) held a joint press conference on Wednesday, February 11th, to address a failed attempt by the Trump administration to secure indictments against them. The senators accused President Trump of 'weaponizing' the justice system and using scare tactics to intimidate his political opponents after a grand jury declined to indict them for creating a video advising U.S. troops that they can refuse illegal orders.
Why it matters
This incident raises concerns about the potential abuse of presidential power and the politicization of the justice system. The senators argue that if Trump can target them, he could potentially do the same to anyone who criticizes or opposes him, posing a threat to democratic norms and the rule of law.
The details
Slotkin and Kelly said they learned from the media about the attempt to secure indictments against them and other Democratic lawmakers who appeared in the video advising troops to disobey illegal orders. The video was in response to Trump sending National Guard units into U.S. cities for crime control and authorizing strikes on boats in the Caribbean that were deemed drug runners. Trump called the video 'seditious behavior' that was 'punishable by death.' The senators said the failed indictment attempt was an abuse of power and part of Trump's 'authoritarian playbook'.
- The video involving Slotkin, Kelly, and other Democratic lawmakers was posted in late November.
- The grand jury failed to indict Slotkin, Kelly, and others on February 11, 2026.
The players
Elissa Slotkin
A Democratic U.S. Senator from Michigan and former CIA analyst.
Mark Kelly
A Democratic U.S. Senator from Arizona and former Navy pilot.
Donald Trump
The former President of the United States who the senators accuse of 'weaponizing' the justice system against his political opponents.
What they’re saying
“The president is using our justice system to weaponize it against his perceived enemies.”
— Elissa Slotkin, U.S. Senator
“The real question is if the president can do this to us, who else can he do it to?”
— Elissa Slotkin, U.S. Senator
“They tried to have us charged and thrown into jail because we said something they didn't like.”
— Mark Kelly, U.S. Senator
“Folks, this is the master alarm flashing for our Democracy.”
— Mark Kelly, U.S. Senator
What’s next
The senators say they will continue to speak out against what they see as an abuse of presidential power and the politicization of the justice system.
The takeaway
This incident highlights the growing concerns about the potential erosion of democratic norms and the rule of law under the Trump administration. It underscores the need for robust checks and balances to prevent the abuse of executive power, regardless of the political party in control.
