Mark Kelly faces military reprimands, possible reductions in rank and retirement pay
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INTERMEDIATE: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., will receive an official letter of reprimand and that he has ordered Navy Secretary John Phelan to review the retired Navy captain’s retirement and pay and give a recommendation in 45 days, greatly increasing the investigation alleging that he made “torturous statements” that undermined him.
“Six weeks ago, Senator Mark Kelly — and five other members of Congress — released a reckless and seditious video intended to undermine good order and morale in the military,” Hegseth said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “As a retired Navy Captain who still receives a military pension, Captain Kelly knows that he will still be held accountable for military justice. And the Department of Defense – and the American people – expect justice.”
Kelly’s rank review may result in him being officially demoted. As a result, his pension, which comes with the position, may be reduced.
A letter of reprimand will also be issued detailing “the extent of Captain Kelly’s misconduct,” Hegseth said.
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Senator Mark Kelly, a former Navy captain, urged the military to reject “illegal orders” in a viral video. (Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Such a letter often calls out figures of wrongdoing and can be used to justify demotions, pay or benefits. It is also a formal warning that future misconduct may result in dire consequences.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Mark Kelly had made “inflammatory” statements, prompting a letter of condemnation. (Omar Havana/Getty Images)
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“This Censure is a necessary step, and it will be placed in Captain Kelly’s official and official military file,” Hegseth said.
The department added that Kelly’s status as a member of the US parliament “does not exempt him from accountability, and violations of the law may lead to further disciplinary action.”
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Kelly has been notified of the basis for the action and has 30 days to file a response, according to Hegseth.
The department added that such actions against Kelly were based on his public statements from June to December 2025, in which he “described official military operations as illegal and encouraged members of the Armed Forces to refuse official orders.”
This comes after a group of Democratic lawmakers with military and intelligence backgrounds, including Kelly; Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich.; Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa.; Attorney Maggie Goodlander, DN.H.; Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa.; and Rep. Jason Crow released a video aimed at service members and intelligence officials saying: “Our rules are clear. You can refuse illegal orders.”
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All the lawmakers in the video highlighted their previous work in the military and intelligence services.
The members in the video worked to limit Trump’s ability to send members of the National Guard home or launch a war against suspected narcoterrorists without congressional approval. However, none of that context appears in the video, titled “Don’t Abandon the Ship.” Instead, the video appealed as a warning to members of the military to “stand up for our laws” and “reject illegal orders.”
Fox News Digital’s Rachel Wolf and Madison Colombo contributed to this report.
