Defense Department to reduce Sen. Mark Kelly’s retirement pay over criticism
January 5 (UPI) — The Department of Defense is reducing Sen. Mark Kelly’s pension due to critical comments he made last year, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Monday.
hegseth published on social media He said the department took administrative action against Kelly and issued a letter of reprimand to the Arizona senator. He claims the video of Kelly urging soldiers to refuse illegal orders was “provocative.”
“Six weeks ago, Senator Mark Kelly and five other members of Congress released a reckless and inflammatory video clearly intended to undermine good order and military discipline,” Hegseth said. “As a retired Navy Captain who still receives a military pension, Captain Kelly knows he still has a responsibility to military justice.”
Hegseth said the actions against Kelly were in response to the video as well as public statements he made from June to December criticizing “lawful military operations” and that those statements were “seditious in nature.”
Hegseth said Kelly has 30 days to respond to the retirement rating determination proceedings and the process will be completed within 45 days.
The Department of Defense is reducing Sen. Mark Kelly’s pension due to critical comments he made last year, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Monday. Photo: Bonnie Cash/UPI
Other former intelligence officials and military members in Congress featured in the video include Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., and Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa. and Rep. Maggie Goodlander, D-Pa.
Other congressmen who appeared next to Kelly in the video also divided Kelly retired from his branches of service, leaving him subject to the Uniform Rules of Military Justice.
“Our laws are clear: you can refuse illegal orders,” Kelly said in the video.
Kelly, who served 24 years in the U.S. Navy, said during the Defense Department’s investigation into his comments that it was an attempt to intimidate him and other members of Congress.
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-Y) shared on social media Monday that Hegseth’s actions against Kelly were an act of “political revenge.”
“I stand with Senator Kelly, who will always do the right thing, no matter the consequences,” Schumer wrote.
