Sen. Mark Kelly said he will aggressively contest a War Department censure and potential demotion initiated by Secretary Pete Hegseth over a video urging service members to reject illegal orders.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., vowed Monday to fight what he called an “outrageous” attempt by the War Department to censure and potentially demote him, responding forcefully after Secretary Pete Hegseth initiated administrative action tied to Kelly’s participation in a video addressing U.S. service members.
Kelly reacted in a social media post after Hegseth announced earlier in the day that he had issued a formal letter of censure. The action stems from a November video in which Kelly and several Democratic lawmakers urged members of the military to uphold the Constitution and refuse what they described as illegal orders from President Donald Trump.
The censure could trigger a retirement grade determination that may result in Kelly being reduced from his retired rank of captain in the U.S. Navy, which would also reduce his military pension.
“If Pete Hegseth, the most unqualified Secretary of Defense in our country’s history, thinks he can intimidate me with a censure or threats to demote me or prosecute me, he still doesn’t get it,” Kelly wrote. “I will fight this with everything I’ve got — not for myself, but to send a message back that Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump don’t get to decide what Americans in this country get to say about their government.”
The November video, which ran about 90 seconds, featured Kelly alongside several Democratic lawmakers who are military veterans or have national security backgrounds. The video was originally posted on the X account of Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and included Reps. Jason Crow of Colorado, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania, and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania. The group addressed active-duty service members directly, emphasizing constitutional obligations and warning against carrying out unlawful directives.
Hegseth defended the action in a separate post, arguing that Kelly remains subject to military accountability despite his retirement.
“As a retired Navy Captain who is still receiving a military pension, Captain Kelly knows he is still accountable to military justice,” Hegseth wrote. “And the Department of War — and the American people — expect justice.”
According to Hegseth, Kelly has been formally notified of the censure and will have 30 days to respond. The retirement grade review process is expected to be completed within 45 days.
In additional remarks, Kelly accused the administration of attempting to intimidate retired service members into silence.
“Pete Hegseth wants to send the message to every single retired servicemember that if they say something he or Donald Trump doesn’t like, they will come after them the same way,” Kelly wrote. “It’s outrageous and it is wrong. There is nothing more un-American than that.”
The dispute sets up a high-profile confrontation between the Arizona senator and the Trump administration over the limits of military authority, free speech, and the obligations of retired officers.
Original article
Comments