This story was first published in The Copper Courier’s daily newsletter. Sign up here.
Tensions between the Pentagon and US Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona continue this week, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announcing that he is issuing a letter of censure against the Democratic congressman.
Hegseth said the letter opens the door for Kelly to be demoted from his rank of retired US Navy captain and for his pension to be cut.
The Pentagon began investigating Kelly after he participated in a video with five other Democratic lawmakers in which they called on troops to uphold the Constitution and defy “illegal orders.”
After the video was posted, President Donald Trump, in a social media post, accused the lawmakers of sedition “punishable by DEATH.”
“Pete Hegseth wants to send the message to every single retired servicemember that if they say something he or Donald Trump doesn’t like, they will come after them the same way. It’s outrageous and it is wrong. There is nothing more un-American than that,” Kelly said in a statement released Monday.
I asked our newsletter readers what they thought of this development in the ongoing saga, and here’s what you said:
💬 “I stand with Mark Kelly!” — Katie W.
💬 “I think your post is one-sided and simply repeats the progressive talking points. Kelly isn’t being ‘targeted’—as you write—for saying something Hegseth and Trump don’t like. Of course service people can ignore ‘illegal orders.’ Where Kelly ran afoul was going [on] national TV making statements which directly implied the Commander in Chief IS issuing illegal orders that CAN be ignored. There is no other way to interpret Kelly’s remarks. Freedom of speech is not the same as freedom from consequences, especially for an officer who presumably knows better.” — Steve L.
💬 “I completely agree with Senator Kelly: ‘There is nothing more un-American than that.’ Where are the guardrails for this unlawful administration? Let’s face it … SCOUTUS is asleep at the wheel!” — Peg L.
💬 “An astronaut and military hero who speaks the truth. How can Hegseth even think he can get away with this?!” — Judy R.
💬 “Kelly and the rest of the Progressive Leftist Democrats are traitors to America. It’s been 166 years and we are once again fighting a civil war against the Democrats to save America.” — Cliff G.
💬 “Hegseth should be removed from office and prosecuted as a war criminal. Kelly was speaking truth to power and the Trump regime is afraid of the truth. Like all bullies, they use intimidation to try to get their way.” — Wayne W.
💬 “I think both Trump and Hegseth should read the Constitution before trying to take things away from Democrats.” — Andy G.
💬 “Mark Kelly is right to stand up for following the Constitution. He’s an American hero for his military service and care of his wife, Gabby, when she was shot. We think Hegseth is a joke.” — Lynn P.
💬 “This absolutely disgraceful conduct by the President and Secretary of Defense. Senator Kelly correctly cited the Code of Military Conduct and for this exercise of his First Amendment rights, he is punished. It is one more public display of the administration’s total disregard of the constitution and one more attempt to stifle all dissent. American citizens need to wake up, to recognize the road we are on with this president and his minions is the antithesis of why we fought the Revolutionary War and is an attempt to make the United States an autocracy.” – Sally S.
💬 “My white grandpa was in the Air Force and designed the very fighter jets that Mark Kelly flew during his time in the Air Force. As a law school graduate, I wholeheartedly encourage Senator Kelly to sue the administration for harassment, slander (and now libel with this written letter of censure), and seek the highest damages allowed by law. This current administration doesn’t understand what they’ve done wrong until they’re hit in the pocketbook. Senator Kelly needs to send a strong message that abuse of our veterans will not be tolerated by anyone, regardless of their rank or current job description.” — Diana S.
💬 “This is all just a sickening display of power on Hegseth’s and Trump’s part. It is sad that Trump has reduced this country to threats such as these simply because someone’s opinions do not lie with his. I believe the military is there to uphold the Constitution of the United States and if the President of this country is attempting to do things that fall outside of the legal boundaries of the Constitution, then they should not have to follow the Commander in Chief as expected.” — Brenda W.
💬 “These people need to be held accountable for that video. It is potentially dangerous, especially for any military member who is already mentally unstable or suffering from PTSD or similar maladies. We’ve seen acts of violence and murder committed by ex-military and even current military members who think they’ve been justified in what they’ve done. They don’t need members of Congress feeding their twisted thinking. Senator Kelly has disgraced himself by participating in its creation.” — Geneva D.
💬 “I stand with Mark Kelly….always have and always will. BTW, I’m an independent.” – Kathleen R.
💬 “I see comments from the far right. I wonder if they actually “served” or just blowing off political steam. Mark Kelly IS a war hero. He has a resume that Hegseth just can’t compare. What Hegseth is doing is WRONG and nothing more than retaliation against Hegseth’s illegal actions. The international community is now involved with Hegseth’s latest move on kidnapping Maduro. Maduro IS a very BAD man. However, what Hegseth did was illegal as well. Two wrongs don’t make a right.” — Rhonda G.
