"This morning, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that he has begun the process to demote Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain and NASA astronaut, and reduce his pension pay. The operative facts here, naturally, are not Kelly's past service but his current rank and service: a Democrat serving in the U.S. Senate and a political adversary of President Donald Trump."
""Six weeks ago, Senator Mark Kelly-and five other members of Congress-released a reckless and seditious video that was clearly intended to undermine good order and military discipline," Hegseth wrote on X this morning. He cited two articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice; Kelly, unlike the other five, holds retired military status, which makes him subject to sanctions from the Defense Department."
"What Hegseth did not cite was what Kelly and his colleagues actually said in the video, and for good reason. Doing so would expose the absurdity of the charge and the abuse of power involved in the attempt to demote him. "Our laws are clear: You can refuse illegal orders," Kelly said. No one in the Trump administration has disputed that this is true."
One indicator of a polity's health is whether a citizen can be punished merely for telling the truth about the law. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has begun proceedings to demote Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain and current U.S. senator, and to reduce his pension. Hegseth cited articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice and noted Kelly's retired military status makes him subject to sanctions. Kelly stated that the law permits refusing illegal orders. The Trump administration responded angrily, labeling the Democrats the "Seditious Six." The move raises concerns about politicized military authority and threats to democratic norms.
Read at The Atlantic
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