Summary
The Pentagon plans to reduce the military rank and pension of Democratic Senator Mark Kelly, a retired Navy Captain, over a video deemed "seditious." The video urged military personnel to refuse illegal orders after U.S. strikes on drug-trafficking boats. Senator Kelly has 30 days to respond to the Pentagon's notice.
Key Facts
- The Pentagon wants to demote Senator Mark Kelly, impacting his pension, due to a video it calls "seditious."
- The video included Kelly and other Democratic lawmakers urging military members to refuse illegal orders.
- The video followed U.S. strikes on drug-trafficking boats, raising legal questions.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the action and mentioned Kelly's accountability to military justice.
- Kelly criticized the Pentagon's move, calling it "outrageous" and "un-American."
- Legal experts are debating the Pentagon's ability to punish a sitting Congress member for political speech.
- Retired military members, like Kelly, are still subject to parts of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).
