"If carried through, the case would mark one of the most aggressive efforts in modern American history to use military disciplinary processes against an elected official, and it signals a sharp escalation in the administration's effort to silence lawmakers who have criticized its expanding assertions of executive power. The trigger was a November video in which Kelly and five other Democratic lawmakers - all of them veterans or former intelligence officials - addressed service members directly."
"Their message was not radical. It was canonical: Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and international law, troops are required to refuse illegal orders, including those that would violate constitutional rights or constitute war crimes. Hegseth, however, characterized the message as "seditious," arguing that it undermined discipline within the ranks. He said the Pentagon has initiated retirement-grade determination proceedings,"
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth opened a rare administrative case seeking to retroactively reduce Sen. Mark Kelly's retirement rank and cut his military pension. Hegseth accused Kelly of "reckless and seditious" conduct and a "pattern of misconduct" after a November video in which Kelly and other veterans reminded troops that under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and international law service members must refuse unlawful orders. The Pentagon initiated retirement-grade determination proceedings and issued a formal letter of censure to enter Kelly's personnel file. Kelly rejected the action as an attack on free speech and on generations of service members.
Read at Advocate.com
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