January 06, 2026
Hegseth to Strip Mark Kelly of Rank, Pension
Timothy Birdnow
Senator Mark Kelly figured he could shoot his mouth off and nothing would happen. He should think again.
FTA:
What Kelly was saying about "illegal orders" means lower ranks simply deciding they didn't like the Commander-in-Chief's orders and so refuse to obey them.
The President is the Commander-in-Chief and unless his orders are way over the top (like ordering trooops to shoot American citizens in peacetime) they must be obeyed. If people like Kelly don't like that they can work to remove the President legally. They have no right to subborn insobrdination.
Hopefully this will just be the beginning of ways they will punish this jerk.
No doubt Kelly will try to challenge this in civil court.
Senator Mark Kelly figured he could shoot his mouth off and nothing would happen. He should think again.
FTA:
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Monday began taking steps to demote Democratic Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly from his current military rank over his role in a viral video telling U.S. service members and spy agencies they must "refuse illegal orders” by the Trump administration.
Hegseth posted a statement to social media saying the Pentagon is taking administrative action to initiate retirement grade proceedings to demote Kelly from a retired Navy captain to a lower rank, with a corresponding deduction in pay. Hegseth also announced a formal letter of censure, outlining Kelly’s "reckless misconduct.”
"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,” Hegseth wrote in a Monday morning X post.
"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 War Secretary added. "The department has initiated retirement grade determination proceedings under 10 U.S.C. § 1370(f), with reduction in his retired grade resulting in a corresponding reduction in retired pay.
Hegseth posted a statement to social media saying the Pentagon is taking administrative action to initiate retirement grade proceedings to demote Kelly from a retired Navy captain to a lower rank, with a corresponding deduction in pay. Hegseth also announced a formal letter of censure, outlining Kelly’s "reckless misconduct.”
"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,” Hegseth wrote in a Monday morning X post.
"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 War Secretary added. "The department has initiated retirement grade determination proceedings under 10 U.S.C. § 1370(f), with reduction in his retired grade resulting in a corresponding reduction in retired pay.
What Kelly was saying about "illegal orders" means lower ranks simply deciding they didn't like the Commander-in-Chief's orders and so refuse to obey them.
The President is the Commander-in-Chief and unless his orders are way over the top (like ordering trooops to shoot American citizens in peacetime) they must be obeyed. If people like Kelly don't like that they can work to remove the President legally. They have no right to subborn insobrdination.
Hopefully this will just be the beginning of ways they will punish this jerk.
No doubt Kelly will try to challenge this in civil court.
Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at
10:35 AM
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1
Of course, Kelly and his lawyers will argue the letter of the law -- that Kelly's pronouncements should be taken precisely at face value. But of course he and the other gang members did not want their statements to be taken at face value. Whether any civil courts will buy that argument remains to be seen.
Posted by: Dana Mathewson at January 09, 2026 12:19 AM (fJC/c)
2
There is an old legal maxim that says (and I am paraphrasing) "when the facts are with you argue the facts, when the facts are against you argue the law, when both are against you attack the prosecutor". Now we know they will do the third without hesitation, but the fact they are going to have to go straight to the legal argument is proof their case isn't very strong. As you say Dana it is anyone's guess if that argument will fly because everyone knew exactly what this guy was implying. He was suggesting something in so many words and he knew exactly what he was suggesting.
Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at January 09, 2026 09:09 AM (umJ+Y)
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