The Department of War has escalated its review of Sen. Mark Kelly to a formal command investigation following allegations that his participation in a controversial video violated military law.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The Department of War has elevated its review of Sen. Mark Kelly, a Democrat from Arizona and a retired U.S. Navy captain, to an official command investigation over what officials describe as “serious allegations of misconduct” stemming from his participation in a video urging military personnel to refuse what the participants characterized as illegal orders from the Trump administration.
Department officials announced the preliminary review on Nov. 24 after Kelly appeared in a video published alongside several Democratic lawmakers. In the video, the group called on members of the military and intelligence community to “refuse illegal orders.” President Donald Trump and War Secretary Pete Hegseth subsequently labeled the video seditious.
Hegseth sharply criticized the lawmakers involved, calling the video “despicable, reckless, and false,” and referring to Kelly, Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, and Reps. Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, and Jason Crow of Colorado as the “Seditious Six” in a statement posted online here.
While four of the participants are former service members, Hegseth said they are not retired and therefore no longer subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Kelly, however, remains subject to the UCMJ because of his retired status.
“The video made by the ‘Seditious Six’ was despicable, reckless, and false. Encouraging our warriors to ignore the orders of their Commanders undermines every aspect of good order and discipline,” Hegseth said. “Their foolish screed sows doubt and confusion, which only puts our warriors in danger.”
“However, Mark Kelly (retired Navy Commander) is still subject to UCMJ — and he knows that,” Hegseth added. “Kelly’s conduct brings discredit upon the armed forces and will be addressed appropriately.”
The Department of War said the investigation could result in further action, including recalling Kelly to active duty to initiate court-martial proceedings or administrative measures, according to a statement posted here.
A Department of War official confirmed the escalation Monday evening, stating:
“The Office of the Secretary of War, in conjunction with the Department of War’s Office of the General Counsel, is escalating the preliminary review of Captain Mark Kelly, USN (Ret.), to an official Command Investigation. Retired Captain Kelly is currently under investigation for serious allegations of misconduct. Further official comments will be limited to preserve the integrity of the proceedings.”
Command investigations are used in cases involving alleged misconduct or disciplinary breaches, according to explanations published by Crisp and Associates Military Law here.
Kelly responded to the escalation in a statement obtained by Fox News correspondent Chad Pergram.
“It should send a shiver down the spine of every patriotic American that the president and secretary of defense would abuse their power to come after me or anyone this way,” Kelly said. “It wasn’t enough for Donald Trump to say I should be hanged. It wasn’t enough for Pete Hegseth to threaten me with a court martial. Now they are threatening everything I fought and served for across twenty-five years in the U.S. Navy—all because I repeated something every service member is taught.”
“The United States has the most professional military in the world—I trust their integrity,” he added. “What I don’t trust is Pete Hegseth, a recklessly unqualified secretary of defense who has already shown he will corrupt any process to make an example out of me and send a message to every veteran and every American that they shouldn’t speak out.”
Kelly said the investigation would not deter him. “If Trump and Hegseth think this will stop me from doing what I’ve done every day of my adult life—fighting for this country—then they’ve got the wrong guy. Tomorrow, and the next day, I will keep doing my job representing Arizona,” he said.
President Trump also posted multiple messages on Truth Social regarding the video, at one point saying that the alleged “seditious behavior” was “punishable by DEATH!” He later reposted comments from others, including one stating, “Hang them George Washington would.”
Trump subsequently clarified during a radio interview with Fox News’s Brian Kilmeade that he was not threatening the lawmakers with death. “I’m not threatening them, but I think they’re in serious trouble,” Trump said. “I’m not threatening death, but I think they’re in serious trouble. In the old days, it was death.”
Earlier in the day, Kelly’s attorney, Paul J. Fishman of Arnold & Porter, released a letter he sent to Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, which was shared publicly here.
“To be clear: there is no legitimate basis for any type of proceeding against Senator Kelly, and any such effort would be unconstitutional and an extraordinary abuse of power,” Fishman wrote. “If the Executive Branch were to move forward in any forum—criminal, disciplinary, or administrative—we will take all appropriate legal action on Senator Kelly’s behalf to halt the Administration’s unprecedented and dangerous overreach.”
The command investigation remains ongoing, with officials declining to provide additional details while the proceedings continue.
Original article
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