"The Pentagon says it will investigate Arizona Senator Mark Kelly for, quote, "serious allegations of misconduct" after he participated in a video addressing military troops. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) MARK KELLY: Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders. CHANG: Senator Kelly, who's a retired Navy fighter pilot and NASA astronaut, reminded troops that they swore an oath to the Constitution. He appeared in the video along with five other Democratic lawmakers who had also served in the military or in the intelligence community."
"Well, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the video, quote, "despicable, reckless and false," and has threatened to have Senator Kelly court-martialed. Meanwhile, President Trump has called the video, quote, "seditious behavior, punishable by death," and even suggested that the participating lawmakers be hanged. As we await details on the investigation, we wanted to look into what the lawmakers suggested in that video to, quote, "refuse illegal orders." How would that actually work?"
"Yes. If an active-duty member knows that an order is unlawful, they must disobey it, or if they should know it's unlawful - that is, an order to commit a crime. Go shoot those peaceful protesters in Chicago. That is manifestly unlawful. And not only does a military member - should they disobey it, they must disobey it. But they do so, Ailsa, at their peril."
The Pentagon will investigate Senator Mark Kelly for alleged misconduct after his appearance in a video addressing military troops. Kelly told troops they can refuse illegal orders and reminded them of their oath to the Constitution. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth labeled the video despicable, reckless and false and threatened court-martial. President Trump called the video seditious behavior punishable by death and suggested hanging the participating lawmakers. A legal expert explained that service members must disobey unlawful orders, including manifestly criminal ones such as shooting peaceful protesters, but that disobedience can place the service member at significant personal and professional peril.
Read at www.npr.org
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