Pentagon Opens Review of Sen. Mark Kelly Over Illegal-Orders Video

The Pentagon said Monday it has begun a review of “serious allegations of misconduct” against Sen. Mark Kelly, an Arizona Democrat and retired Navy officer, over a video in which he and five other Democratic lawmakers urged service members to refuse illegal orders, CBS News and CNBC reported.

The review could lead to Mr. Kelly’s recall to active duty for court-martial proceedings or to administrative measures, the Pentagon said in a social media post quoted by both outlets.

Mr. Kelly appeared in the video, posted Nov. 18, with Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Reps. Jason Crow of Colorado, Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania and Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, according to CBS News and CNBC. “Our laws are clear: you can refuse illegal orders,” Mr. Kelly said in it, CNBC reported.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called it the work of the “Seditious Six” and said the video was “despicable, reckless, and false.” He noted that five of the six do not fall under Pentagon jurisdiction, but that Mr. Kelly, as a retiree, remains subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, according to CNBC. Mr. Hegseth also said Mr. Kelly’s words were “addressed directly to all troops while explicitly using his rank and service affiliation,” giving them “the appearance of authority,” CBS News reported. The Pentagon cited a federal law barring actions meant to interfere with the loyalty, morale or discipline of the armed forces, and noted that it applies to retirees, CBS News said.

President Trump has attacked the lawmakers in strong terms. CBS News reported that he said they should be arrested and tried for “seditious behavior,” posted “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!” and reposted a message reading “HANG THEM, GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD!” He later said he was “not threatening death, but I think they’re in serious trouble.” CNBC quoted another post calling them “traitors” who should be “ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL.”

Mr. Kelly said he learned of the review from social media. “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,” he wrote on X. “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 lawmakers’ video urged service members and intelligence officials to refuse illegal orders, citing threats to the Constitution, CBS News reported. The Pentagon said in its post that violations of the law it cited “will be addressed through appropriate legal channels,” and Mr. Hegseth said Mr. Kelly’s conduct “brings discredit upon the armed forces and will be addressed appropriately,” per CBS News.