Hegseth launches motion focusing on Sen. Kelly’s rank, retirement : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5828x3885+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F92%2F54%2F00eb99c448d5a9a34e9bec89890a%2Fgettyimages-2249432193.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5828x3885+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F92%2F54%2F00eb99c448d5a9a34e9bec89890a%2Fgettyimages-2249432193.jpg" class="img" alt="Standing behind a wooden lectern equipped with a microphone, Senator Mark Kelly speaks at a news conference in the Capitol on December 1, 2025. He's wearing a blue suit, and behind him are three U.S. flags on flagpoles." fetchpriority="high"/> Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., speaks at a information convention within the Capitol on Dec. 1, 2025. Kelly held the occasion to deal with what he described as intimidating actions by President Trump and Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth, following the discharge of a video wherein Kelly and a number of other lawmakers urge U.S. troops to refuse "unlawful orders." Anna Moneymaker/Getty Photos cover caption

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Anna Moneymaker/Getty Photos Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly is pledging to combat again after Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth introduced he is taking administrative motion towards Kelly.

Hegseth claims that Kelly's public statements, together with a video message telling troops to not observe unlawful orders, quantity to sedition.

In an announcement on social media, the protection secretary stated that he has initiated a proper 45-day course of to cut back Kelly's rank and retirement pay.

"In response to Senator Mark Kelly's seditious statements — and his sample of reckless misconduct — the Division of Struggle is taking administrative motion towards Captain Mark E. Kelly, USN (Ret)," Hegseth's assertion reads.

This administrative motion will embrace a assessment of Kelly's retirement grade, which may lead to a change or discount to his rank, "leading to a corresponding discount in retired pay."

Hegseth additionally introduced he issued a proper censure letter that shall be positioned in Kelly's official army file.

In response, Kelly issued an announcement saying that he had earned his rank in fight and as an astronaut and that Hegseth and the Trump administration had been attempting to stifle free speech and dissent amongst retired army officers.

"My rank and retirement are issues that I earned by way of my service and sacrifice for this nation. I acquired shot at. I missed holidays and birthdays. I commanded an area shuttle mission whereas my spouse Gabby recovered from a gunshot wound to the pinnacle — all whereas proudly carrying the American flag on my shoulder," Kelly stated.

"Pete Hegseth needs to ship the message to each single retired servicemember that if they are saying one thing he or Donald Trump would not like, they'll come after them the identical method. It is outrageous and it's fallacious. There's nothing extra un-American than that," Kelly added.

The Arizona senator stated he will not be intimidated by censure or threats to his rank and retirement. He acknowledged he plans to combat the motion.

"I'll combat this with all the things I've acquired — not for myself, however to ship a message again that Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump do not get to determine what Individuals on this nation get to say about their authorities."

Earlier than serving as a U.S. senator, Kelly spent 25 years as a Navy pilot and retired with full army advantages. That standing makes him topic to the army code of justice. The Pentagon launched an investigation into Kelly in November.