Sen. Mark Kelly blasted the Pentagon after the Defense Department said it is escalating a review of his Nov. 18 video urging service members to refuse illegal orders, calling the probe “a bunch of bulls—.” The Navy submitted a report on possible punishments to the Office of General Counsel, and a Pentagon official said Kelly faces investigation into “serious allegations of misconduct,” which could include recall and court-martial. Kelly and Senate Democrats say the action is political intimidation, while some Republicans have expressed concern about the probe's use of resources. The Office of General Counsel will decide whether to recommend disciplinary steps.
Sen. Mark Kelly Calls Pentagon Probe 'Bulls—,' Accuses Administration Of Silencing Critics
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) on Tuesday sharply criticized the Pentagon after the Defense Department said it was escalating a review of his Nov. 18 video urging service members to refuse unlawful orders.
“This is all a bunch of bulls—,” Kelly told reporters on Capitol Hill, rejecting the department’s actions and framing the probe as political intimidation.
The Department of Defense announced Monday that it is increasing scrutiny of Kelly, a retired Navy captain, over the video in which he and several other Democrats urged troops to decline illegal directives. A Pentagon official told The Hill that Kelly is the subject of an investigation into what the official described as “serious allegations of misconduct.” The department has previously said he could be recalled to active duty and potentially face court-martial proceedings.
The Navy last week submitted a report outlining potential punishments to the Defense Department’s Office of General Counsel; the contents of that report have not been released.
Kelly's Response
Kelly has pushed back against the investigation, saying he and his colleagues were exercising First Amendment rights. He argued the review is intended to send a warning to retired and active-duty service members and government employees not to speak critically about the president.
“This is just about sending a message to retired service members, active duty service members, government employees: ‘Do not speak out against this president, or there will be consequences,’” the senator said.
Political Reactions
Senate Democrats condemned the probe. Kelly’s 12 Democratic colleagues on the Senate Armed Services Committee last week issued a joint statement calling the investigation “an outright, brazen abuse of power.”
Some Republicans also voiced concern. Senators Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) said they were troubled by the prospect of pursuing the case; Paul called it “a terrible idea.” Other Republican senators, including Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), criticized Kelly’s decision to participate in the video but questioned whether the remarks were unlawful or whether the probe is a productive use of Pentagon resources.
What Comes Next
The Office of General Counsel will review the Navy’s submission and determine whether to recommend disciplinary action. If the department pursues the matter, options could range from administrative penalties to recalling Kelly to active duty and court-martial, although Pentagon officials have not disclosed specific potential charges.
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