CNN
cnn.com › 2026 › 01 › 05 › politics › pentagon-cuts-mark-kellys-retirement-pay-punishment
Pentagon cuts Sen. Mark Kelly’s military retirement pay as punishment over ‘illegal orders’ video | CNN Politics
1 week ago - Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain, by cutting his retirement pay for participating in a video where he and other Democratic lawmakers reminded US service members of their duty to refuse illegal orders.
X
x.com › SecWar › status › 2008189258528665898
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on X: "Six weeks ago, Senator Mark Kelly — and five other members of Congress — released a reckless and seditious video that was clearly intended to undermine good order and military discipline. As a retired Navy Captain who is still receiving a military pension, Captain Kelly knows he" / X
These actions are based on Captain Kelly's public statements from June through December 2025 in which he characterized lawful military operations as illegal and counseled members of the Armed Forces to refuse lawful orders. This conduct was seditious in nature and violated Articles 133 and 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, to which Captain Kelly remains subject as a retired officer receiving pay.
Senator Mark Kelly sues Pete Hegseth, DOD, and others over Hegseth's censure of Kelly
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Mark Kelly v. Pete Hegseth
This lawsuit is going to be a serious problem for Pete Hegseth and the administration, and the fact that it had to be filed at all is a pretty stark indictment of where things are right now. A sitting Member of Congress has more speech protection than an ordinary citizen, not less. The Speech and Debate Clause exists specifically to prevent the executive branch from punishing legislators for political speech. Whatever limits apply to active-duty service members do not override a Senator speaking in his legislative capacity. Even putting the constitutional issues aside, what Kelly said should not be controversial. Reminding service members that they are not required to follow illegal orders is basic constitutional and military law. If that is now being labeled seditious, the problem is not the speech. It is the standard being applied. The selective enforcement only makes this worse. Multiple veterans in Congress participated in the same statement. Only Mark Kelly was punished. That looks far less like neutral application of military authority and far more like retaliation. The most plausible explanation is that Kelly has name recognition and credibility, so the administration thought making an example of him would deter others. Courts are rarely sympathetic to that kind of reasoning. Finally, yes, the Department of Defense and the Navy clearly overstepped their authority. Retirement grade determinations are tied to active-duty conduct, not civilian political speech years later. Using military retirement authority to discipline a sitting Senator crosses a clear separation of powers line. This is not a close or novel constitutional question. It is an overreach that is likely to age very poorly once a court actually examines it. Given everything else unfolding right now, it is hard to see much value in even debating this. Between the Epstein files fiasco, the confusion around Venezuela and Greenland, and the ongoing Minnesota ICE and CBP situation, this feels less like a serious legal or policy dispute and more like background noise in an administration that is constantly generating new controversies faster than anyone can meaningfully engage with them...sigh. More on reddit.com
The law isn’t on Pete Hegseth’s side as he attempts to demote Mark Kelly
His goal isn't to demote Mark Kelly, it is to quiet dissent. More on reddit.com
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sent a letter of censure to Sen. Mark Kelly. What does that mean?
Just my opinion but I feel like he's doing this to keep other retirees quiet. More on reddit.com
Videos
00:58
LAWSUIT: Hegseth violated Sen. Mark Kelly's 1st Amendment rights ...
10:00
Lawrence: Sen. Kelly puts Pete Hegseth on the defensive by making ...
07:36
Sen. Kelly defends lawsuit against Secretary Hegseth in Senate ...
05:40
Sen. Mark Kelly blasts Pete Hegseth after censure over 'illegal ...
16:04
FULL REMARKS: Mark Kelly reacts to censure from Pete Hegseth - YouTube
08:11
Hear Sen. Mark Kelly’s response to Pete Hegseth moving to cut ...
MS NOW
ms.now › home › hegseth taunts mark kelly as another democratic veteran faces investigation
Hegseth taunts Mark Kelly as another Democratic veteran faces investigation
In mid-December, the Pentagon announced that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was “escalating” his crusade against Sen. Mark Kelly, launching an “official Command Investigation” into the Arizona Democrat.
Published 2 days ago
U.S. Senate
kelly.senate.gov › home › statement from senator kelly
Statement from Senator Kelly - Senator Mark Kelly
3 days ago - Today, Arizona Senator and Navy combat veteran Mark Kelly released the following statement: “Pete Hegseth is coming after what I earned through my twenty-five years of military service, in violation of my rights as an American, as a retired veteran, and as a United States Senator whose job ...
Business Insider
businessinsider.com › business insider › military & defense › hegseth's prosecution of mark kelly sends a chilling message to us troops and veterans, legal analysts say
Hegseth's prosecution of Mark Kelly sends a chilling message to US troops and veterans, legal analysts say
1 week ago - Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's extraordinary move to demote a retired military veteran in the Senate comes after weeks of threats for more severe punishment, and experts on military law said it has implications for speech by troops and retired military. The highly public decision to censure Democratic Sen. Mark Kelley and to possibly dock his military pension is likely to make military retirees think twice before publicly criticizing the Trump administration, two former military lawyers said.
MS NOW
ms.now › home › the law isn’t on pete hegseth’s side as he attempts to demote mark kelly
Opinion | Why Pete Hegseth can't reduce Mark Kelly's rank and pay
Mark Kelly, D-Arizona, as he threatened ... war,” pivoted and said Tuesday that Kelly will be administratively (meaning, arbitrarily and behind closed Pentagon doors) demoted in rank....
Published 1 week ago
CBS News
cbsnews.com › cbs mornings › sen. mark kelly says hegseth's move to demote him "is about stifling people's speech"
Sen. Mark Kelly says Hegseth's move to demote him "is about stifling people's speech" - CBS News
1 week ago - Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona said on Tuesday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's move to begin a process to demote and cut his retirement pay "is about stifling people's speech."