- Pentagon
probes Senator Mark Kelly for violations. - Kelly
is retired Navy pilot and astronaut. - Video
urges military to refuse illegal orders.
In a statement regarding Kelly, the Pentagon stated that it
had
” entered serious allegations of misconduct against Captain Mark Kelly,
USN( Ret.),”
and that”
a thorough review of these allegations has
been initiated to determine further conduct, which may include recall to active
duty for court-martial proceedings or executive measures.”
The statement, posted on X, said:
“This matter will
be handled in compliance with military law, ensuring due process and
impartiality. Further official comments will be limited, to preserve the
integrity of the proceedings.”
The action is taken in response to legal concerns raised by
the Trump administration’s use of National Guard troops in American cities and
its deadly attacks on boats thought to be involved in drug smuggling in the
Caribbean.
The action is taken in response to legal concerns raised by
the Trump administration’s use of National Guard troops in American cities and
its deadly attacks on boats thought to be involved in drug smuggling in the
Caribbean.
Last week, Kelly, a Democrat elected in 2020, joined five
other House and Senate Democrats who also served in the armed forces or an
intelligence branch in a video on X. In it, Kelly and the others said:
“This
administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence intelligence
community professionals against American citizens. Like us, you all swore an
oath to protect and defend this Constitution.”
Sen. Elissa Slotkin, a former CIA analyst, Rep. Jason Crow
of Colorado, a former Army Ranger who served
in Iraq, two Pennsylvania lawmakers, Rep. Chris Deluzio, a former U.S. Navy
officer, and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, a former Air Force officer, as well as Rep.
Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, a former U.S. Navy intelligence officers
all made appearances in the video.
The only person who may be brought back to active service
for a court-martial is Kelly, who has officially retired from the Navy with the
rank of captain. It is extremely uncommon for the Pentagon to take such action,
and it is uncertain if defense officials will carry out the threat.
Kelly is married to Gabby Giffords, a former Popular
representative from Arizona who was nearly taken in an assassination attempt in
2011. Before NASA chose him to be an astronaut, he performed combat operations
over Iraq as a nonmilitary flier . He later flew two Space Shuttle operations
as an airman and two further as a commander. Scott Kelly, a former NASA
astronaut, is his binary family.
What are potential consequences if recalled for court
martial proceedings?
He would face formal charges under the Uniform Code of
Military Justice( UCMJ), which governs military labor force, indeed retirees
entering benefits. Possible penalties could range from executive warrants to
redundancy from the service, penalty of pay and benefits, and confinement
depending on the charges’ inflexibility.
The disquisition hinges on whether his conduct in the
videotape prompting colors to refuse “ illegal orders ” are supposed misconduct
snooping with military discipline and fidelity. This case is unusual as it
involves a presently serving U.S. assemblyman who’s also a sheltered elderly
military officer, testing the boundaries of military governance and mercenary
political rights.
The process and consequences are serious and could have
continuing legal and political ramifications for Kelly depending on the
disquisition’s outgrowth.
