SecWar Pete Hegseth Announces Reduction of Mark Kelly's Retirement Pay In Wake of "Seditious" Video Counseling Armed Forces Personnel to Refuse Lawful Orders

I'd've preferred hanging, but I guess this is something.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Monday announced administrative action against Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., over his participation in a video that he deemed "reckless and seditious."

Kelly, in November, appeared alongside several other Democratic lawmakers in a video urging American servicemembers to disobey "illegal orders" from President Donald Trump. The video generated outcry from conservatives, many of whom suggested the lawmakers were attempting to incite disloyalty in the military.

"[T]he Department of War is taking administrative action against Captain Mark E. Kelly, USN (Ret)," Hegseth announced. "The department has initiated retirement grade determination proceedings under 10 U.S.C. sec. 1370(f), with reduction in his retired grade resulting in a corresponding reduction in retired pay."

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth @SecWar

2h

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 is still accountable to military justice. And the Department of War -- and the American people -- expect justice.

Therefore, in response to Senator Mark Kelly's seditious statements -- and his pattern of reckless misconduct -- the Department of War is taking administrative action against Captain Mark E. Kelly, USN (Ret). The department has initiated retirement grade determination proceedings under 10 U.S.C. sec. 1370(f), with reduction in his retired grade resulting in a corresponding reduction in retired pay.

To ensure this action, the Secretary of War has also issued a formal Letter of Censure, which outlines the totality of Captain (for now) Kelly's reckless misconduct. This Censure is a necessary process step, and will be placed in Captain Kelly's official and permanent military personnel file.

Captain Kelly has been provided notice of the basis for this action and has thirty days to submit a response. The retirement grade determination process directed by Secretary Hegseth will be completed within forty five days.

Captain Kelly's status as a sitting United States Senator does not exempt him from accountability, and further violations could result in further action.

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.

Someone on Twitter pointed out that, despite the left's psyops about Hegseth being unqualified, every action he's ordered has gone off without a hitch.

It's almost as if the military performs better when it's led by someone who knows what he's doing and also does not hate the military itself.

posted by Ace at 03:00 PM

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