Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

BumRushDaShow

(167,377 posts)
Thu Feb 12, 2026, 07:05 AM 7 hrs ago

'Very chilling': GOP senators slam Trump admin's bungled indictment attempt against Dems

Source: Raw Story

February 11, 2026 7:46PM ET


With President Donald Trump's Justice Department trying, and failing, to secure a criminal indictment against Sens. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) for their roles in a video advising active-duty troops they must refuse illegal orders, Senate Republicans are coming out of the woodwork to condemn the administration having even attempted this in the first place, NOTUS reported on Wednesday evening.

“It’s very chilling, right? As a member of Congress, we have the Speech and Debate Clause. Not only as a member, but it’s a First Amendment right of speech here,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a frequent critic of the president, told NOTUS.

Meanwhile, Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), who faces a tough re-election battle this fall, said, “I’m not surprised that the grand jury declined to indict them,” said Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME). “I don’t think they should have [tried to indict them]. I spoke out about that very early on.”

Meanwhile, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), who faces a primary challenge backed by Trump, said, “I would not have brought it were I the president.” Even some Republican lawmakers who are more loyal to Trump, and who agreed with his fury over the Democratic video, expressed similar opinions. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) told NOTUS, “[the video showed] terrible, terrible judgment, but I think trying to indict them for it was not a good idea.”

Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/senate-gop-2675261016/

10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
'Very chilling': GOP senators slam Trump admin's bungled indictment attempt against Dems (Original Post) BumRushDaShow 7 hrs ago OP
Sorry, GOP slime. Your attempts at trying to seem human are not working. OldBaldy1701E 4 hrs ago #1
Republicans are cowards. yardwork 4 hrs ago #2
Hawley said "the video showed terrible judgment". Terrible judgement for telling the truth, which is the law? tableturner 4 hrs ago #3
Translation... radical noodle 3 hrs ago #4
It was terrible judgment to have a democracy Bluetus 3 hrs ago #5
May be their king but not "our". efhmc 2 hrs ago #7
The strongest of their very weakest has the moral fortitude of a two year old. nt Exp 2 hrs ago #6
"Slam?" ruet 2 hrs ago #8
For a group who refuses to criticize anything 45 does, including killing people BumRushDaShow 2 hrs ago #10
Cowards Akakoji 2 hrs ago #9

Bluetus

(2,510 posts)
5. It was terrible judgment to have a democracy
Thu Feb 12, 2026, 10:24 AM
3 hrs ago

I don't know if the OP thought that any of this reflected even a tiny sliver of courage by the Republicans. It just makes them look worse.

All of those statements were of the form, "they probably deserved to be in prison, but it was bad optics to seek the indictments." Only Murkowski even mentioned it was a fundamental right. None of them came within light-years of simply saying "The Senators are correct. Nobody should be following illegal or unconstitutional orders."

BumRushDaShow

(167,377 posts)
10. For a group who refuses to criticize anything 45 does, including killing people
Thu Feb 12, 2026, 11:55 AM
2 hrs ago

any actual “criticism” is a “slam”.

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»'Very chilling': GOP sena...