The US Department of Defence has initiated a formal process that could see a Democratic senator stripped of his military rank and pension, following his involvement in a controversial video addressing active-duty personnel.
Administrative Action Over 'Reckless' Video
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has taken administrative action against Senator Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain, citing a "reckless and seditious" video released six weeks ago. The video, published in November 2025, featured Kelly and five other Democratic lawmakers with military or intelligence backgrounds calling on soldiers to refuse "illegal orders."
In a sharply worded statement, Secretary Hegseth accused the Arizona senator of a "pattern of reckless misconduct" intended to undermine military discipline. A censure letter has been dispatched to Kelly, marking the first step in a review of his standing. The letter pointedly referred to the senator as "Captain (for now)."
Political Firestorm and Presidential Reaction
The video and the Pentagon's response have ignited a significant political firestorm. The actions of Kelly and his colleagues reportedly enraged President Donald Trump, who took to Truth Social to label their behaviour "seditious" and "treason." In posts from the time, the President demanded execution via hanging, reposting a message that stated, "HANG THEM, GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD!"
Senator Kelly, however, has remained defiant. In a statement to the Daily Mail last month, he said, "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. I’ve given too much to this country to be silenced by bullies."
Review Process and Jurisdictional Limits
The Pentagon's letter asserts that because Kelly is retired and still receives military pay, he remains subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. He has 30 days to respond to the censure, with a full review of his rank and pension expected to be completed within 45 days.
Secretary Hegseth clarified that the other five Democrats in the video—including ex-CIA analyst Senator Elissa Slotkin and former Army Ranger Representative Jason Crow—will not face similar investigation as they do not fall under the Pentagon's jurisdiction.
The Secretary's statement concluded that the actions are based on 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."
