“Wake Up Republicans!”
Democratic Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona has been censured by Defense Secretary Hegseth it was announced today. The censure came because of the Senator’s involvement in a video with other lawmakers that called on troops to resist unlawful orders. Hegseth, a former FOX anchor, said that the action was “a necessary process step” to proceedings that could result in a demotion from the Senator’s retired rank of captain in the US Navy and a reduction in his retirement pay. Hegseth has called the video “sedition.”
Last year Senator Kelly participated in a 90-second video with five other Democrati lawmakers. They told troops not to follow “illegal orders”. President Trump who never served in the mililtary because of bone spurs said this act of sedition was “punishable by death” following the release of the video. The other lawmakers in the video served in the mililtary or the intelligence community. Senator Kelly was singled out by Hegseth because he was the only one who retired from the mililtary and therefore is still under Pentagon jurisdiction.
The Senator has said that the investigation is part of an effort to silence dissent within the military. But the effort won’t silence or intimidate him. Throughout the ordeal, Senator Kelly has remained steadfast in his determination to defend himself against the insipid claims of Hegseth.
Senator Kelly’s name has surfaced in recent months as a possible candidate in the next Presidential election. He is married to former Rep. Gabby Giffords who was seriously injured when meeting with constituents years ago. The couple has appeared at events calling for stricter gun control laws in the US. The Senator is a former astronaut and a retired US Navy pilot who flew 39 combat missions on behalf of the US.
“Trump thinks actng like Putin makes him look strong, but what he did in fact has strategic implications he doesn’t understand,” Senator Kelly said of the weekend raid of Venezuela.
Senator Kelly now has 30 days to submit a response to the prdeedings that will decide if he is demoted. The decision will be made within 45 days. Hegseth has been \just one more controversial cabinet appointments made by President Trump. The Secretary of Defense Hegseth had to assure some lawmakers that if appointed to this position, he would give up drinking alcohol – for which he was well-known during his tenure as a FOX anchor. He was also controversial for his release of classified information, including to a member of the press.