In a significant move that has ignited a political firestorm, the United States Department of War, led by Secretary Pete Hegseth, has announced punitive action against a sitting US Senator and retired military officer. The action stems from a controversial video where the senator and his colleagues called upon American soldiers to question authority.
Pentagon's Punishment for a 'Reckless' Video
On Monday, US War Secretary Pete Hegseth took to the social media platform X to declare that the Pentagon would be punishing Senator Mark Kelly. Kelly is a Democrat and a retired captain of the US Navy. The punishment involves cutting the military pension he receives as a retired soldier.
The drastic step follows the lawmaker's appearance in a video released six weeks ago. In it, he and five other Democratic senators urged members of the US armed forces and intelligence community to "refuse illegal orders". Hegseth branded the video as "reckless and seditious", claiming it was designed to undermine military discipline.
"As a retired Navy Captain who is still receiving a military pension, Captain Kelly knows he is still accountable to military justice," Hegseth stated in his post. He added that a formal secretariat letter of censure has also been issued against Kelly.
Senator Kelly's Fierce Retort and the Video's Content
Senator Mark Kelly did not take the censure lying down. Reacting on Monday morning local time, he launched a scathing counter-attack. He labelled Pete Hegseth as "the most unqualified Secretary of Defense in our country’s history".
He vowed to challenge the decision vigorously. "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," Kelly asserted.
The contentious video featured six Democratic senators warning that "threats to our Constitution" were emerging domestically. While they encouraged service members to refuse illegal orders, the video did not specify which exact orders they were referring to. This ambiguity has become a central point of debate.
Notably, the context coincides with bipartisan concerns in the US Congress regarding airstrikes on boats suspected of drug trafficking. The Pentagon defends these strikes as legal, arguing that the alleged smugglers have been designated as terrorists by the US government.
A Pattern of Targeting Political Adversaries
This incident aligns with a broader pattern observed since Donald Trump began his second term as President. The Trump administration has repeatedly moved against its political critics.
The Department of Justice under Trump has brought criminal charges against several high-profile figures:
- James Comey, the former FBI Director.
- John Bolton, the former White House National Security Advisor.
- Letitia James, the New York State Attorney General.
While charges against James and Comey were later dismissed by a judge, and Bolton has pleaded not guilty, the actions have fueled accusations of using state machinery to settle political scores. The case of Senator Mark Kelly's military pay now adds a new, unprecedented layer to this ongoing political confrontation, testing the boundaries of free speech, military code, and political retaliation.
