Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the U.S. Navy to complete by early next month a review of the Department of Defense’s (DOD) complaint against Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) over his recent remarks alongside other lawmakers.
Hegseth referred the allegations against Kelly, a retired Navy captain, to Navy Secretary John Phelan and ordered Phelan to report back with findings by Dec. 10, according to a Tuesday memo that was shared by DOD.
The order comes a day after the Pentagon said it received “serious allegations of misconduct” against Kelly and initiated a probe into the Arizona senator to “determine further actions, which may include recall to active duty for court-martial proceedings or administrative measures.”
The Hill has reached out to the Navy and Kelly’s office for comment.
Kelly was one of six Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Elissa Slotkin (Mich.) and Reps. Chris Deluzio (Pa.), Maggie Goodlander (N.H.), Chrissy Houlahan (Pa.) and Jason Crow (Colo.), who said in a joint video last week that U.S. troops do not have to follow illegal orders from the Trump administration. All six served in the military or as intelligence officers.
Kelly fired back on Monday, saying DOD’s probe is meant to “intimidate” himself and other lawmakers and that “it won’t work.”
“I’ve given too much to this country to be silenced by bullies who care more about their own power than protecting the Constitution,” the Arizona senator said in a statement Monday.
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The video sparked pushback from GOP lawmakers and President Trump, who accused the lawmakers of committing an offense “punishable by death.” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later told reporters that the president thinks the six Democrats should face consequences, but he does not want to execute members of Congress.
Hegseth ripped the video on Tuesday, calling it a “politically-motivated influence operation” that sowed doubt among U.S. troops.
The Pentagon chief jabbed at Kelly, accusing him of being unable to display his uniform “correctly.”
“Your medals are out of order & rows reversed,” Hegseth said, reposting a photo Kelly had shared Monday of his medals. “When/if you are recalled to active duty, it’ll start with a uniform inspection.”
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