US federal prosecutors have failed to secure an indictment against six members of Congress who published a video last year encouraging US troops to disobey orders they deem illegal.
A grand jury declined to indict the Democratic lawmakers on charges of seditious conspiracy in the case pursued by the office of the US attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, who was nominated to the position by President Donald Trump.
Trump had branded the video "seditious" and a federal probe into the video was launched shortly after.
One lawmaker, Senator Mark Kelly, a former Navy captain and astronaut, has sued the government for moving to reduce his retirement rank over the video.
Following news of the failed indictment, Kelly wrote on social media: "This is an outrageous abuse of power by Donald Trump and his lackies.
