Pentagon Launches Probe Into US Senator Over Alleged 'Illegal Orders' Video
The Pentagon has launched an investigation into US Senator Mark Kelly, a former Navy captain, over his participation in a video urging military personnel to defy "illegal orders." The move comes after President Donald Trump repeatedly called for criminal charges against Kelly and other Democratic lawmakers involved in the video.
Kelly is facing a probe under military law, which applies to retired officers like himself. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said that Kelly's conduct has brought discredit upon the armed forces and will be addressed appropriately.
The senator has responded with defiance, saying that if the investigation is meant to intimidate him and other lawmakers from doing their jobs, it won't work. Kelly emphasized that he has given too much to his country to be silenced by bullies who care more about their own power than protecting the Constitution.
The controversy surrounding the video has sparked outrage among Democrats, with many arguing that Trump's response amounts to a death threat. The lawmakers' video simply reaffirms a fact of military law: service members are required to refuse orders they know to be in violation of US law.
Trump first invoked the death penalty on Thursday, sparking widespread criticism. Despite this, the president doubled down on his stance late on Saturday, calling for those who released the video "to be in jail right now."
The Pentagon's move has signaled that federal agencies, led by Trump appointees, are willing to respond to the president's political grievances. This has raised concerns about the erosion of the separation of powers and the politicization of the military.
Kelly, a retired US Navy captain who represents Arizona in the Senate, was one of six former military and intelligence officers featured in the video. The Pentagon stressed that under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), service members have a legal obligation to obey lawful orders.
However, it is rare for military courts to prosecute former service members, especially for alleged offenses committed after their tenure. Retired personnel who continue to receive benefits remain subject to military law, according to the UCMJ.
The controversy has come as the US continues to reel from political violence following the assassination of right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk in September and the killing of Democratic Minnesota state lawmaker Melissa Hortman in June.
As the investigation into Kelly unfolds, it remains to be seen how the Pentagon will proceed. However, one thing is certain: this case has highlighted the increasingly politicized nature of US politics and the military.
The Pentagon has launched an investigation into US Senator Mark Kelly, a former Navy captain, over his participation in a video urging military personnel to defy "illegal orders." The move comes after President Donald Trump repeatedly called for criminal charges against Kelly and other Democratic lawmakers involved in the video.
Kelly is facing a probe under military law, which applies to retired officers like himself. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said that Kelly's conduct has brought discredit upon the armed forces and will be addressed appropriately.
The senator has responded with defiance, saying that if the investigation is meant to intimidate him and other lawmakers from doing their jobs, it won't work. Kelly emphasized that he has given too much to his country to be silenced by bullies who care more about their own power than protecting the Constitution.
The controversy surrounding the video has sparked outrage among Democrats, with many arguing that Trump's response amounts to a death threat. The lawmakers' video simply reaffirms a fact of military law: service members are required to refuse orders they know to be in violation of US law.
Trump first invoked the death penalty on Thursday, sparking widespread criticism. Despite this, the president doubled down on his stance late on Saturday, calling for those who released the video "to be in jail right now."
The Pentagon's move has signaled that federal agencies, led by Trump appointees, are willing to respond to the president's political grievances. This has raised concerns about the erosion of the separation of powers and the politicization of the military.
Kelly, a retired US Navy captain who represents Arizona in the Senate, was one of six former military and intelligence officers featured in the video. The Pentagon stressed that under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), service members have a legal obligation to obey lawful orders.
However, it is rare for military courts to prosecute former service members, especially for alleged offenses committed after their tenure. Retired personnel who continue to receive benefits remain subject to military law, according to the UCMJ.
The controversy has come as the US continues to reel from political violence following the assassination of right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk in September and the killing of Democratic Minnesota state lawmaker Melissa Hortman in June.
As the investigation into Kelly unfolds, it remains to be seen how the Pentagon will proceed. However, one thing is certain: this case has highlighted the increasingly politicized nature of US politics and the military.
i'm low-key worried about mark kelly rn 
he's been like a total hero for speaking truth to power & now the pentagon is all up in arms 
about it i feel like trump is trying to bully him into silence 
but kelly's not having it 
he's standing firm & saying that if they're gonna try to intimidate him, it won't work 
and tbh i think we should be supporting him more 
not just because of his military background, but also because of the message he's sending about standing up for the constitution 
anyway, this whole thing is getting super politicized & i'm here. for. it 
. It feels like we're seeing a big power play here with the Pentagon taking on a senator who's basically speaking truth to power 
. But on the other hand, if he's really breaking the law, then maybe we shouldn't be so quick to defend him 
. It's all about nuance here, right? 
. Kelly and the other lawmakers are standing strong, and I got nothing but respect for that. I mean, can you imagine if we had to deal with some crazy military general trying to silence us like this? We'd be all over it, trust me 
. The separation of powers is supposed to be a thing for a reason, you know?
- I wonder how far down the rabbit hole this goes and what kind of precedent it sets for future politicians. Is Trump really going to start targeting lawmakers with military charges over disagreement? That's just crazy talk 
like, the guy just did what he thinks is right and expects to be held accountable if he's wrong? seems like a normal thing for any politician to do. it's not like he's defying orders for personal gain or something. the fact that he's calling for criminal charges is super concerning tho...