Pete Hegseth orders US navy to investigate Mark Kelly’s comments | Democrats
US defense secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday escalated Trump administration chiefs’ attacks on Arizona senator Mark Kelly by ordering the US Navy secretary to investigate “potentially illegal comments” made by Kelly. a social media video together with other MPs.
Hegseth’s order came as follows: a memorandum John Phelan asked the Navy Secretary to review comments made by Kelly and a group of fellow Democrats in a video last week aimed at reminding serving soldiers and intelligence officers that they have the right to refuse illegal orders.
Hegseth said in the memo that he asked Phelan for a briefing that he could review by Dec. 10.
The Pentagon issued a statement on Monday saying it was investigating Kelly for possible violations of military law.
Kelly and other Democrats were accused of “seditious behavior” by Donald Trump, and Kelly responded by saying the US president was using the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) against them as “a tool to intimidate and harass members of Congress.”
The four politicians and two others had produced a video encouraging U.S. military members to resist illegal orders; The message angered Trump, who said on social media that the group was “traitorous” and could therefore be jailed or even face the death penalty.
Latest statement Congressional lawmakers from the group released by Jason Crow of Colorado, Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, and Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire confirmed that the FBI contacted the House and Senate sergeants-at-arms to request an interview with them.
“No amount of intimidation or harassment will prevent us from doing our job and respecting our constitution,” they said, adding that each had taken an oath to “support and defend” the U.S. constitution.
“This oath lasts a lifetime, and we intend to keep it. We will not be bullied. We will never give up the ship,” they added.
The statement deepens a dispute between Democrats, including Arizona senator and former astronaut Kelly and Michigan congresswoman Elissa Slotkin, and the Trump administration over its video message urging members of the military and intelligence services to “reject illegal orders.”
Slotkin said the FBI’s counterterrorism unit notified the group that they had “opened an investigation against six of us” and called the move a “scare tactic” by Trump.
“Honestly, the president’s response and the use of the FBI against us is exactly why we made this video,” he said.
“He believes he should use the federal government against those he sees as his enemies, and he is not afraid to use the weapons of the government against people he disagrees with. He does not believe the laws apply to him… which is exactly why we created this video to reassure people that they are not alone as they watch these events unfold.”
The Pentagon said it was also reviewing allegations of misconduct against Kelly that could result in his recall to active duty to be court-martialed.
