The Pentagon announced on Monday that it will reduce Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly\u2019s military retirement pay as punishment for his role in a video reminding U.S. service members of their right to refuse illegal orders.<\/p>\n
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the action as a response to the Democrat\u2019s \u201cseditious\u201d statements. He also issued a formal letter of censure against Kelly, a retired Navy captain and astronaut, detailing what the secretary called a \u201cpattern of reckless misconduct.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn response to Senator Mark Kelly\u2019s seditious statements \u2014 and his pattern of reckless misconduct \u2014 the Department of War is taking administrative action against Captain Mark E. Kelly, USN (Ret),\u201d Hegseth wrote<\/a> in a post on X. \u201cThe department has initiated retirement grade determination proceedings under 10 U.S.C. \u00a7 1370(f), with reduction in his retired grade resulting in a corresponding reduction in retired pay.\u201d<\/p>\n The letter serves as a written reprimand but carries no additional practical effects for Kelly beyond the pay cut.<\/p>\n Hegseth elaborated, \u201cSix weeks ago, Senator Mark Kelly \u2014 and five other members of Congress \u2014 released a reckless and seditious video that was clearly intended to undermine good order and military discipline.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs a retired Navy Captain who is still receiving a military pension, Captain Kelly knows he is still accountable to military justice. And the Department of War \u2014 and the American people \u2014 expect justice,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Kelly has 30 days to submit a response to the pay reduction decision, Hegseth said, warning that \u201cCaptain Kelly\u2019s status as a sitting United States Senator does not exempt him from accountability, and further violations could result in further action.\u201d<\/p>\n The video, posted<\/a> on X on November 18, featured Kelly saying, \u201cOur laws are clear: you can refuse illegal orders.\u201dIt also included messages from five other Democrats: Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin, a former CIA analyst; Colorado Rep. Jason Crow; New Hampshire Rep. Maggie Goodlander, a former Navy officer; and Pennsylvania Reps. Chris Deluzio, a former Navy officer, and Chrissy Houlahan, a former Air Force officer.<\/p>\n Unlike Kelly, who retired from the Navy and remains subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the other three veterans in the video separated from their branches without retiring, making them exempt from such military accountability, CNN reported<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n