Republican judge TORCHES Pete Hegseth in savage ruling after he threatened to strip senator’s rank: ‘Our veterans deserve more’
Pete Hegseth was blocked by a judge Thursday from sentencing a Democratic senator who called on troops not to follow Donald Trump’s illegal orders.
Richard L. Leon, a Bush-appointed federal judge for the District of Columbia, slapped the defense secretary with an open decision after the Pentagon tried to strip Sen. Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain, of his rank and pension.
‘Rather than seeking to curtail retired service members’ First Amendment freedoms, Secretary Hegseth and his fellow Defendants may consider and be grateful for the wisdom and expertise that retired service members have brought to public discussions and debates on military matters in our Nation over the past 250 years,’ Judge Leon wrote in the 29-page decision.
‘If so, they will better understand why the Founding Fathers designated free speech as the first Amendment to the Bill of Rights!’
Kelly, along with five other Democratic lawmakers, released a video in November encouraging members of the military and intelligence community to reject ‘illegal orders’ from the White House.
Trump reacted by accusing Kelly and his fellow Democrats of ‘seditious behavior punishable by DEATH’.
The judge’s harsh decision came after Kelly sued Hegseth and the Department of Defense for launching a military investigation into his public statements that could have cost him his rank.
Judge Leon scolded the Trump administration for not going through the proper channels so that ‘the military could take the first step in deciding First Amendment rights.’
Judge Richard L. Leon slapped Pete Hegseth with a straight decision after the Pentagon tried to strip Sen. Mark Kelly of his retired Navy rank and pension.
In November, Kelly released a video in which he encouraged active-duty service members in the military and intelligence community to reject “illegal orders” from the White House.
The judge also noted that Kelly made his comments while exercising his congressional oversight authority over the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Judge Leon noted that Hegseth’s decision to punish Kelly through military channels appeared to be a tactic to avoid oversight by the legal system.
“The Court has all it takes to conclude that Defendants trampled Senator Kelly’s First Amendment freedoms and threatened the constitutional liberties of millions of military retirees,” Judge Leon added.
He continues his decision by quoting famous musician Bob Dylan’s words: ‘You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind is blowing.’
Judge Leon concluded: ‘To say the least, our veterans deserve greater respect from their Government, and our Constitution demands that they receive that respect!’
The Arizona lawmaker’s lawyer claimed Hegseth was trying to punish Kelly ‘solely for the content and viewpoint of his political speech.’
Judge Leon’s decision prevents the Department of Defense from pursuing its administrative review of Kelly’s comments until the matter is decided by the court.
Hegseth responded to the decision by vowing to appeal the judge’s decision: ‘This will be appealed immediately. Fitna is fitna, “Captain.”
In a statement to the Daily Mail, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly reiterated Hegseth’s promise to overturn the judge’s decision: ‘This will not be the last word on the matter.’
The shocking decision comes after a Washington D.C. grand jury on Tuesday rejected the Justice Department’s bid to indict Kelly and five other Democratic lawmakers.
