Pete Hegseth said the censure is for a video in which Senator Mark Kelly, a Navy Veteran, tells service members they can “refuse illegal orders.”
By Catholics for Catholics
Defense and War Secretary Pete Hegseth initiated administrative actions against Senator Mark Kelly, a Democrat of Arizona, that could reduce his military pension retirement rank
The debacle between Hegseth and Kelly started in November, when the lawmaker and five other Democratic leaders who served in the military or intelligence taped a video, telling service members that they were compelled to reject any order that was illegal.
“Our laws are clear; you can refuse illegal orders,” Kelly said in the video.
But according to an Epoch Times story, Hegseth labeled the video by the Democratic lawmakers “seditious” and blasted Kelly for a “pattern of reckless misconduct” aimed at causing strife.
After the release of the video, the Pentagon said that Kelly was under investigation and that he could face a court-martial.
Mark Kelly on the Trump/Hegseth boat strikes: "If orders are illegal, not only do they not have to follow them, they are legally required not to follow them." pic.twitter.com/JJiMFzWcps
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 30, 2025
Hegseth said Monday that the lawmakers “released a reckless and seditious video that was clearly intended to undermine good order and military discipline” and that Kelly, because he is still receiving a military pension, “is still accountable to military justice.”
Kelly’s statements were seditious and violated the Uniform Code of Military Justice, including an article that prohibits conduct unbecoming of an officer, Hegseth said.
In addition, President Donald Trump has also disparaged the video, saying it was seditious and noting sedition can be castigated by death.
The Department of War had started an adjustment to Kelly’s retirement grade, resulting in a reduction of his pension, pending an appeal, Hegseth said. He added that the censure would ensure the reduction and outlined why Kelly’s actions resulted in punishment.
Still, Kelly told The Epoch Times he would not be daunted by the censure.
“I will fight this with everything I’ve got—not for myself, but to send a message back that Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump don’t get to decide what Americans in this country get to say about their government,” Kelly said via email.
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