Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., speaks at a information convention within the Capitol on Dec. 1, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Kelly held the occasion to deal with what he described as intimidating actions by President Trump and Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth, following the discharge of a video by which Kelly and a number of other lawmakers urged U.S. troops to refuse “unlawful orders.”
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Photographs
conceal caption
toggle caption
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Photographs
Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly is pledging to battle again after Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth introduced he is taking administrative motion in opposition to Kelly.
Hegseth claims that Kelly’s public statements, together with a video message telling troops to not observe unlawful orders, quantity to sedition.
In a press release on social media, the protection secretary mentioned that he is initiated a proper 45 day course of to scale back Kelly’s rank and retirement pay.
“In response to Senator Mark Kelly’s seditious statements — and his sample of reckless misconduct — the Division of Warfare is taking administrative motion in opposition to Captain Mark E. Kelly, USN (Ret),” Hegseth’s assertion learn.
This administrative motion will embody overview of Kelly’s retirement grade, which might lead to a change or discount to his rank “leading to a corresponding discount in retired pay.”
Hegseth additionally introduced he issued a proper censure letter that can be positioned in Kelly’s official navy file.
In response, Kelly issued a press release, saying he had earned his rank in fight and as an astronaut, and that Hegseth and the Trump administration had been attempting to stifle free speech and dissent amongst retired navy officers.
“My rank and retirement are issues that I earned by way of my service and sacrifice for this nation. I bought shot at. I missed holidays and birthdays. I commanded an area shuttle mission whereas my spouse Gabby recovered from a gunshot wound to the pinnacle — all whereas proudly carrying the American flag on my shoulder,” Kelly mentioned.
“Pete Hegseth desires to ship the message to each single retired servicemember that if they are saying one thing he or Donald Trump would not like, they are going to come after them the identical means. It is outrageous and it’s incorrect. There may be nothing extra un-American than that,” Kelly added.
The Arizona senator mentioned he will not be intimidated by censure or threats to his rank and retirement. He acknowledged he plans to battle the motion.
“I’ll battle this with all the pieces I’ve bought — not for myself, however to ship a message again that Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump do not get to determine what Individuals on this nation get to say about their authorities.”
Earlier than serving as a senator, Kelly spent 25 years as a Navy pilot and retired with full navy advantages. That standing makes him topic to the navy code of justice. The Pentagon launched an investigation into Kelly in November.
