GOP Senators Susan Collins and Thom Tillis Warn Hegseth Against Punishing Sen. Mark Kelly
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has formally censured Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly and initiated proceedings that could strip the retired Navy captain of his military rank and cut his pension and two Republican senators are warning him not to go further.
The rare dispute pits Pentagon action against concerns from within Hegseth’s own party about political retaliation and free-speech protections.
Hegseth announced the censure Monday, saying Kelly’s participation in a November video urging service members not to follow “unlawful orders” undermined military discipline. The formal Letter of Censure opens a process that could lead to demotion from Kelly’s retired captain rank and a reduced military pension.
But Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Thom Tillis of North Carolina publicly cautioned Hegseth against punishing Kelly over the video. Tillis described the Pentagon’s action as “ridiculous,” warning it could chill speech, and Collins argued targeting Kelly’s benefits was inappropriate, even as both acknowledged criticism of the video itself.
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Kelly, a long-serving Navy veteran and former astronaut, and five other Democrats released the video in November, urging troops to uphold the Constitution and refuse illegal orders. Hegseth insists retired military officers remain subject to military justice, while critics including legal experts and Kelly’s team say the move raises constitutional concerns.
Kelly has 30 days to respond to the proceedings, with final administrative decisions expected in roughly 45 days. Opponents of the Pentagon’s approach signal potential legal challenges could follow, arguing the action blurs lines between military discipline and political speech.
Whether Hegseth presses ahead or softens course amid GOP criticism could set a precedent for how military retirees’ speech is treated in political controversies.
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