U.S. Representative Maggie Goodlander said Wednesday that a recent attempt by federal prosecutors to pursue charges against her ultimately failed, after a grand jury declined to issue indictments.
The effort stemmed from a video recorded last November in which Goodlander and five other Democratic members of Congress — all veterans — addressed active-duty service members. In the recording, the group emphasized that U.S. troops are obligated to follow lawful orders and should not comply with directives they believe to be illegal, referencing concerns about potential actions by President Donald Trump.
According to multiple sources, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C., presented the matter to a grand jury but was unable to secure indictments against any of the six lawmakers involved.
Goodlander said she believes the investigation followed public criticism from Trump after the video’s release. At the time, Trump sharply rebuked the lawmakers, calling them traitors and suggesting severe punishment. In a statement Tuesday evening, Goodlander alleged that Trump directed the Justice Department to investigate her and her colleagues, though she confirmed no charges were filed.
On Wednesday, she characterized the prosecution effort as an attempt to deter elected officials from speaking out. “We live in a system of rule of law,” she said, adding that recent events tested foundational democratic principles. She described the situation as both troubling and dangerous, arguing that reaffirming the military’s duty to follow only lawful orders reflects long-standing constitutional norms.
Goodlander also questioned what she described as an outsized response to what she called a restatement of established military doctrine. She said the intensity of the reaction underscored broader concerns about executive power and accountability.
Later that day, Goodlander stood alongside other lawmakers. Together, they called for transparency regarding the Justice Department’s actions and urged that government institutions remain insulated from political retaliation.
As of Wednesday, the Department of Justice had not issued a public comment on the matter.
