MAGA Senator Criticized for Contradictory Stance on Trump's Revenge Plot

CNN's Jake Tapper grilled Sen. Markwayne Mullin over his response to the DOJ's efforts to imprison Democratic lawmakers.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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A MAGA senator was called out after he tied himself in knots over Donald Trump's efforts to imprison two of his Senate colleagues, Sens. Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin, for a video in which they quoted the Military Code of Justice. While Mullin claimed he couldn't comment on the case since he's not a lawyer, he went on to accuse the Biden administration of politicizing the DOJ against Trump's political opponents.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the ongoing partisan tensions and accusations of political weaponization of the justice system, as well as the challenges of maintaining impartiality and the rule of law in a highly polarized political environment.

The details

A grand jury refused to indict six Democratic members of Congress, including Sens. Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin, for interfering with the loyalty, morale, or discipline of the U.S. armed forces after they released a video reminding service members of their duty to disobey illegal orders. Trump had previously accused the lawmakers of 'SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!' but several Senate Republicans called the attempted indictment 'chilling' and said the administration's 'political warfare' needs to stop. During an interview, Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma claimed he couldn't comment on the case since he's not a lawyer, but then went on to accuse the Biden administration of using the DOJ for 'political leverage' against Trump.

  • The grand jury refused to indict the six Democratic lawmakers last week.
  • The video reminding service members of their duty to disobey illegal orders was released prior to the attempted indictment.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president who accused the Democratic lawmakers of 'SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!'

Sen. Mark Kelly

One of the six Democratic lawmakers who made the video reminding service members of their duty to disobey illegal orders.

Sen. Elissa Slotkin

One of the six Democratic lawmakers who made the video reminding service members of their duty to disobey illegal orders.

Sen. Markwayne Mullin

The pro-MAGA senator who was interviewed by CNN's Jake Tapper and contradicted himself in his response to the DOJ's efforts to imprison the Democratic lawmakers.

Jake Tapper

The CNN host who interviewed Sen. Markwayne Mullin and called out his contradictory stance.

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What they’re saying

“Well Jake, it's not the lane I walk in. I leave that to the DOJ. I'm not an attorney.”

— Sen. Markwayne Mullin (CNN)

“I do have a tough time imagining, let's say if the Biden administration had tried to persecute [Sen.] Rand Paul [of Kentucky] for saying things about COVID that they didn't like, I have a tough time imagining you would say the same thing.”

— Jake Tapper, CNN Host (CNN)

“I don't think there's even a question that the DOJ was weaponized against President Trump at this point.”

— Sen. Markwayne Mullin (CNN)

What’s next

The case against the six Democratic lawmakers, including Sens. Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin, is likely to continue to be a subject of political debate and scrutiny, with questions remaining about the motivations and impartiality of the DOJ's actions.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing partisan tensions and accusations of political weaponization of the justice system, underscoring the challenges of maintaining impartiality and the rule of law in a highly polarized political environment.