Sen. Mark Kelly facing military investigation after clashing with Trump
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Sen. Mark Kelly casts a vote at the U.S. Capitol, Sept. 19. Photo: Daniel Heuer/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Pentagon on Monday said it was investigating Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly (Ariz.) — a retired naval officer who recently clashed with President Trump — over "serious allegations of misconduct."
Why it matters: Kelly is part of a group of Democratic lawmakers who last week posted a video calling on military service members to disobey unlawful orders. Trump demanded that the lawmakers be "ARRESTED and PUT ON TRIAL."
- A statement from the Pentagon on Monday did not specify the nature of the allegations but said all service members have a "legal obligation" to "obey lawful orders and that orders are presumed to be lawful."
- A representative for Kelly did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The big picture: Democrats rallied around Kelly and colleagues last week after Trump posted on social media that the video was "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH."
- "If this is meant to intimidate me and other members of Congress from doing our jobs and holding this administration accountable, it won't work," Kelly said in a statement Monday.
- He added: "I've given too much to this country to be silenced by bullies who care more about their own power than protecting the Constitution."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said last week: "I've never seen a president or heard of a president who has done more to encourage political violence."
- Schumer also said he has asked the U.S. Capitol Police to give Kelly and Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) "special protection."
Catch up quick: In the video, Kelly, along with Slotkin and Reps. Jason Crow (D-Colo.), Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.), Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H.) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), urged service members to defy unlawful orders.
- "This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens," the Democrats said. "Our laws are clear: You can refuse illegal orders."
- White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a press briefing last week that Trump's social media posts about the video were not meant as threats.
- Trump suggested in an interview that aired Friday that the Defense Department was investigating the six Democratic lawmakers.
The other side: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Monday that the video from Democrats "was despicable, reckless, and false."
- "Encouraging our warriors to ignore the orders of their Commanders undermines every aspect of 'good order and discipline,'" Hegseth said in a post on X.
- The Pentagon post points to a federal law that bars intentionally urging U.S. troops to disobey orders or undermine military discipline, carrying penalties of up to 10 years in prison.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional reporting.
