‘Keep your mouth shut.’ Mark Kelly hits back at Trump, Pentagon investigation

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, President’s Donald Trump It’s sending a “message” that Americans can’t criticize their government after the Pentagon last week launched an investigation into the Arizona Democrat, which could include a court-martial and his recall to active duty.

“They’re trying to send the message to veterans, government employees, military members, elected officials and any Americans who are thinking of speaking out, you better keep your mouth shut,” said Kelly, a retired U.S. Navy captain. He said at a press conference on December 1: on Capitol Hill.

The Pentagon announced last week that it was investigating Kelly for “allegations of serious misconduct.” The move comes after Kelly joined a group of Democratic lawmakers in releasing a video telling service members they have the right to disobey orders they believe are illegal.

Trump’s War Department in a broadcast on X last week He confirmed an investigation would be launched against Kelly, which “may include court-martial proceedings or recall to active duty for administrative measures.” The post cited the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the federal law that establishes the military’s criminal code.

But Kelly said at the news conference that the Trump administration’s public comments were “the only notification we’ve ever received” about a possible court-martial. Legal and military experts told USA TODAY that the case against Kelly faces major hurdles and will likely “be resolved upon arrival” in military courts.

“This is a dangerous moment for the United States when the president and his loyalists use whatever leverage they have to silence U.S. senators,” Kelly said.

The FBI last week also requested interviews with the Arizona senator and five other Democratic members of Congress who participated in the video.

Shortly after the clip was released, Trump made a series of posts on social media, accusing Democratic lawmakers of “seditious behavior punishable by DEATH.” He later told Fox News that he did not believe the lawmakers should be executed but warned that they were in “serious trouble.”

Referring to Trump’s initial social media posts in the video, Kelly claimed that the president “has no respect for the rule of law.” But the senator also said he does not plan to sue Trump for his public criticism.

Kelly says Hegseth should testify about Venezuela attacks

Kelly also criticized recent US attacks on suspected drug vessels following news that the US military had attacked a ship in the Caribbean, killing two people trapped in the wreckage.

Kelly said Congress was briefed on the first three attacks. But a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee claimed officials were “tying themselves in knots and trying to explain why this entire operation was legal.”

He said he wanted officials involved in the strikes to appear before the committee to lay out the legal argument to the American public, including addressing concerns about due process, which is a guarantee under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution.

Although the president’s allies say these are national security efforts, the Trump administration is facing increasing scrutiny from a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the wake of the latest attacks.

“If anyone has to answer questions publicly and under oath, it’s Pete Hegsethsaid Kelly.

This article first appeared on USA TODAY: Senator Mark Kelly calls Trump and Pentagon investigation a ‘dangerous moment’