The Pentagon is reportedly launching an inquiry into U.S. Senator Mark Kelly after his statement earlier this week encouraging uniformed military to disobey illegal orders. The inquiry is an outgrowth of concerns that Kelly’s remarks might slander the reputation of the military. At the same time, he’s charting a course through a political environment marred by palpable escalation in crises and growing political violence throughout the nation.
As a former U.S. Navy fighter pilot and astronaut, Kelly drew attention during his recent MS NOW Morning Joe appearance. He said, “This type of inflammatory rhetoric is not only irresponsible but dangerous.” He was alluding to what would happen if you were to incite members of the military to disobey legal orders. Given where we are at as a country, his comments are highly significant. He’s not the only one – he’s one of six lawmakers with military or intelligence backgrounds who spoke directly to troops in a recent video.
In the video, Kelly emphasized the importance of upholding laws and the Constitution, urging service members to “stand up for our laws … our constitution.” You have a duty to refuse illegal orders,” his reminder that has since sparked outrage from critics on all sides. The Pentagon’s probe was only launched after Kelly found out about it himself from a defense department social media post.
The senator’s comments come as America is witnessing a surge in political violence throughout the country. In 2011, his wife, Gabrielle Giffords, was seriously injured in an assassination attempt but survived. This traumatic experience informs his perspective on today’s political atmosphere. As a military veteran and NASA astronaut, Kelly’s experience adds weight to his worries. He has served the best interest for the safety and morale of all service members and their families.
Kelly is the only featured participant in the video who is subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). If she did this, we would encourage her strong action from the Pentagon. In making its argument, the department cited a little-known federal law governing the recall of retired uniformed service members to active duty. Such an action would expose him to a court martial, and/or other forms of disciplinary action.
The investigation has drawn attention from various political figures, including former President Donald Trump, who accused Kelly of engaging in “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH.” In response to Trump’s accusations, Kelly expressed fears for his family’s safety, stating, “If this is meant to intimidate me and other members of Congress from doing our jobs and holding this administration accountable, it won’t work.”
Besides Kelly’s remarks, other observers, including Fox News host Pete Hegseth lambasted his behavior, claiming it eroded military discipline. Hegseth was vehemently opposed to the notion of incentivizing our warriors to disobey orders of their superiors. He said it undercuts every element of good order and discipline. He continued that Kelly’s misconduct would have been properly handled by military commands.
Kelly’s deep military experience is extensive. He hauntingly remembers one such experience: “I had one missile explode next to my jet and actually flew through enemy anti-aircraft fire to get bombs on target to defeat the enemy.” His 40-year career with NASA saw him command the space shuttle, including recovery missions for the fallen astronauts. “I did all of this for my country,” he proudly stated throughout his interview. I care deeply for this nation, and it has done so much for me.
His remarks have opened an important conversation about the state of military ethics and political discourse in America. Kelly said she has been struck by the silence from congressional Republicans about the violent rhetoric directed at lawmakers. She added, “We’ve heard almost nothing, like frankly crickets from the US Congress Republicans on the president inciting the hanging of congressional members.”
The Pentagon’s investigation into Senator Kelly highlights the ongoing tensions within U.S. politics and poses significant questions about the intersection of military authority and civilian leadership. Lawmakers at the same time are trying to address all of these tricky dynamics. Kelly’s remarks are sure to influence debates over military protocol and accountability.