"Susan Collins of Maine, who chairs the Senate appropriations committee with jurisdiction over the Pentagon's budget, said she believed it was wrong to target Kelly's military benefits because of a political video. Thom Tillis of North Carolina also described the Pentagon's censure as ridiculous, said that Hegseth overreached and cautioned that pursuing such action has a chilling effect on speech."
"Hegseth said on Monday that his department had begun administrative action against Kelly, who served as a navy captain before entering the Senate. Last year Kelly and other Democrats released a video encouraging military personnel to refuse illegal orders. Writing on social media, Hegseth described it as a reckless and seditious video that was clearly intended to undermine good order and military discipline."
Two senior Republican senators opposed Pentagon secretary Pete Hegseth's move to demote Senator Mark Kelly and reduce his pension after Kelly released a video urging active-duty military to follow the law. Susan Collins said targeting military benefits over a political video was wrong. Thom Tillis called the censure ridiculous, warned of a chilling effect on speech, and said Hegseth overreached. Hegseth said administrative action had begun and labeled the Democrats' video reckless and seditious. The defense secretary opened a retirement grade determination and formal censure process that could cut rank and pension.
#pentagon-disciplinary-action #military-benefits #free-speechchilling-effect #senate-republican-opposition
Read at www.theguardian.com
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