Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) fired back at the Trump administration and the Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Monday after the Pentagon announced it would be launching an investigation into whether Kelly, a retired Navy captain, is guilty of misconduct after appearing in a video urging members of the military and intelligence community not to follow “illegal orders.”
In a statement released Monday morning, the Department of Defense said it had “received serious allegations of misconduct against Capt. Mark Kelly, USN (Ret.). In accordance with the Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 USC § 688, and other applicable regulations, a thorough review of these allegations has been initiated to determine further actions, which may include active court summons measures or administrative measures active. handled in accordance with military law, ensuring due process and impartiality. Further official comments will be limited, to preserve the integrity of the proceedings.
She continued:
The War Department reminds all individuals that military retirees remain subject to the UCMJ for applicable crimes, and federal laws such as 18 USC § 2387 prohibit actions intended to interfere with the loyalty, morale, or good order and discipline of the armed forces. Any violations will be addressed through appropriate legal means.
All service members are reminded that they have a legal obligation under the UCMJ to obey lawful orders and that orders are presumed to be lawful. A service member’s personal philosophy does not justify or excuse disobedience of a legitimate order.
In his own statement, Hegseth claimed that:
The video made by the “Seditious Six” was despicable, reckless, and false. Encouraging our fighters to ignore the orders of their Commanders undermines every aspect of “good order and discipline.” Their foolishness sows doubt and confusion – which only puts our warriors in danger.
Five of the six individuals in that video do not fall under the jurisdiction of @DeptofWar (one is CIA and four are ex-military but not “retired”, so no longer subject to the UCMJ). However, Mark Kelly (retired Navy Commander) is still subject to the UCMJ—and he knows it.
As announced, the Department is reviewing his statements and actions, which were addressed directly to all troops while explicitly using his rank and service affiliation—giving an air of authority to his words. Kelly’s behavior brings discredit on the armed forces and will be dealt with appropriately.
The launch of the investigation comes after the President Donald Trump expressed his anger about the video, which he claimed was “SEDIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!”
Kelly responded to the development on X, writing, “When I was 22 years old, I commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy and swore an oath to the Constitution. I swore that oath through flight school, multiple deployments on the USS Midway, 39 combat missions in Operation Desert Storm, test pilot school, test pilot school, four days of space flight and a shuttle mine after retiring from NASA was shot in the head while serving her constituents.”
“In combat, I had a missile strike near my jet and took off from anti-aircraft fire to drop bombs on enemy targets. At NASA, I launched a rocket, commanded the space shuttle, and was part of the recovery mission that brought home the bodies of my fellow astronauts who died in Columbia. I did all this in the service, and it continues to me the country. “Secretary Hegseth’s tweet is the first I’ve heard of this. I also saw the posts of the President saying that I should be arrested, hanged, and killed. If this is meant to intimidate me and other members of Congress from doing our jobs and holding this administration accountable, it won’t work. I have given too much to this country to protect the Constitution itself than to care about their constitution. “
The post Mark Kelly Fires Back After Hegseth Launches Investigation Into Him: ‘I Have Given Too Much To This Country To Be Silenced By Bullies’ first appeared on Mediaite.