Mark Kelly faces navy censure, potential discount in retired rank and pay

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EXCLUSIVE: Secretary of Struggle Pete Hegseth stated Sen. Mark Kelly , D-Ariz., will obtain a proper censure letter and that he has directed Secretary of the Navy John Phelan to overview the retired Navy captain's retirement rank and pay and supply a advice in 45 days, sharply escalating an investigation alleging he made "seditious statements" that undermined navy operations.

"Six weeks in the past, Senator Mark Kelly — and 5 different members of Congress — launched a reckless and seditious video that was clearly supposed to undermine good order and navy self-discipline," Hegseth stated in a press release to Fox Information Digital. "As a retired Navy Captain who remains to be receiving a navy pension, Captain Kelly is aware of he's nonetheless accountable to navy justice. And the Division of Struggle — and the American folks — count on justice."

The overview of Kelly's rank may lead to a downgrade from the rank at which he formally retired. In consequence, his retirement pay, which is tied to rank, may additionally be decreased.

A censure letter will even be issued outlining the "totality of Captain Kelly’s reckless misconduct," Hegseth stated.

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Senator Mark Kelly, a former Navy Captain, urged troops to refuse "unlawful orders" in a viral video. (Eric Lee/Bloomberg through Getty Pictures)

Such a letter usually calls out figures for wrongdoing and can be utilized to justify reductions in rank, pay or advantages. It additionally serves as an official warning that future misconduct may lead to harsher penalties.

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Secretary of Struggle Pete Hegseth stated Mark Kelly has made "seditious" statements, prompting the difficulty of a censure letter. (Omar Havana/Getty Pictures)

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"This Censure is a obligatory course of step, and will probably be positioned in Captain Kelly’s official and everlasting navy personnel file," Hegseth said.

The division added that Kelly’s standing as a sitting U.S. senator "doesn't exempt him from accountability, and additional violations may lead to additional motion."

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Kelly was notified of the premise for the actions and has 30 days to submit a response, in line with Hegseth.

The division added that such actions in opposition to Kelly are based mostly on his public statements from June by way of December 2025, by which he "characterised lawful navy operations as illegal and inspired members of the Armed Forces to refuse lawful orders."

This comes after a gaggle of Democratic lawmakers with navy and intelligence backgrounds, together with Kelly; Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich.; Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa.; Rep. Maggie Goodlander, D-N.H.; Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa.; and Rep. Jason Crow launched a video directed at service members and intelligence officers stating: "Our legal guidelines are clear. You'll be able to refuse unlawful orders."

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All of the lawmakers within the video highlighted their former service within the navy and intelligence neighborhood.

Members within the video had labored to restrict Trump’s skill to deploy Nationwide Guard members domestically or launch navy motion in opposition to suspected narcoterrorists with out congressional approval. Nevertheless, none of that context seems within the video, titled "Don’t Give Up the Ship." As an alternative, the video framed the attraction as a warning to navy members to "arise for our legal guidelines" and "refuse illegal orders."