"Hegseth said the censure - by itself simply a formal letter with little practical consequence - was "a necessary process step" to proceedings that could result in a demotion from Kelly's retired rank of captain and subsequent reduction in retirement pay. Investigating and now punishing a sitting U.S. senator is an extraordinary move for the Pentagon, which until President Donald Trump's second term had usually gone out of its way to act and appear apolitical."
"In a lengthy post on social media, Kelly said he "never expected" what he called an "attack" from Trump and Hegseth, recounting his 25 years of Navy service as well as combat and space missions. Calling Hegseth's move "outrageous" and "un-American," Kelly said he would fight the censure "with everything I've got - not for myself, but to send a message back that Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump don't get to decide what Americans in this country get to say about their government.""
The Defense Secretary censured Sen. Mark Kelly for participating in a video that urged troops to resist unlawful or illegal orders. Hegseth described the censure as 'a necessary process step' toward proceedings that could demote Kelly from his retired rank of captain and reduce his retirement pay. Investigating and punishing a sitting U.S. senator represents an extraordinary action for the Pentagon. Kelly said he 'never expected' the move, recounted 25 years of Navy service including combat and space missions, and called the censure 'outrageous' and 'un-American.' The censure followed a short video of six veteran lawmakers urging troops to uphold the Constitution and defy 'illegal orders,' and former President Trump called their statement sedition 'punishable by DEATH.'
Read at ABC7 Los Angeles
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