Pentagon says it’s investigating Sen. #MarkKelly over video urging troops to defy ‘#IllegalOrders

By KONSTANTIN TOROPIN
Updated 2:58 PM EST, November 24, 2025

Excerpt: WASHINGTON (AP) — "The Pentagon announced Monday it is investigating Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona over possible breaches of military law after the former Navy pilot joined a handful of other lawmakers in a video that called for troops to defy 'illegal orders.'

"The Pentagon’s statement, posted on social media, cited a federal law that allows retired service members to be recalled to active duty on orders of the defense secretary for possible court martial or other measures.

"It is extraordinary for the Pentagon, which until President Donald Trump’s second term had usually gone out of its way to act and appear apolitical, to directly threaten a sitting member of Congress with investigation. It comes after Trump ramped up the rhetoric by accusing the lawmakers of sedition 'punishable by DEATH' in a social media post days after the video was released last week.

"In its statement Monday, the Pentagon suggested that Kelly’s statements in the video interfered with the 'loyalty, morale, or good order and discipline of the armed forces' by citing the federal law that prohibits such actions.

" 'A thorough review of these allegations has been initiated to determine further actions, which may include recall to active duty for court-martial proceedings or administrative measures,' the statement said.

"Kelly said he upheld his oath to the Constitution and dismissed the #Pentagon investigation as the work of '#bullies.'

" '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,' Kelly said in a statement.

"In the video, Kelly was one of six Democratic lawmakers who have served in the military or intelligence community to speak 'directly to members of the military.' The other lawmakers are Sen. #ElissaSlotkin and Reps. #JasonCrow, #ChrisDeluzio, #MaggieGoodlander and #ChrissyHoulahan, who are seen as possible future aspirants for higher office and elevated their political profiles with the video’s wide exposure.

"Kelly, who was a fighter pilot before becoming an #astronaut and then retiring at the rank of captain, told troops that 'you can refuse illegal orders,' while other lawmakers in the video said they needed troops to 'stand up for our laws ... our Constitution.' "

Read more:
https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-mark-kelly-troop-investigation-4882f76b05dcdfa3060c284c2c84dd12

#USPol #TrumpIsABully #CourtMartial #Sedition #Resistance #ResistIllegalOrders #Constitution #TrumpIsAFascist #Authoritarianism #IllegalOrders #IllegalPresident #ImpeachTrump #NoWar #CharacteristicsOfFascism

Pentagon says it's investigating Sen. Mark Kelly

The Pentagon says it's investigating Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona over possible breaches of military law after the former Navy pilot joined a handful of other lawmakers in a video that called for U.S. troops to defy “illegal orders.” The Pentagon’s statement Monday cited a federal law that allows retired service members to be recalled to active duty on orders of the defense secretary for possible court martial or other measures. Kelly said he upheld his oath to the Constitution and dismissed the Pentagon investigation as the work of “bullies.” It's extraordinary for the Pentagon to directly threaten a sitting member of Congress with investigation.

AP News
Trump Says Democratic Lawmakers Should Die For Telling The Military To Obey Their Oath

The President of the United States is calling for the execution of six Democratic lawmakers—all military veterans or former intelligence officers—because they reminded US service members of their o…

Techdirt

Yikes! Apparently, #Trump is accusing these #Veterans of #sedition!

#Goodlander is among Democratic lawmakers urging military to reject '#IllegalOrders'

New Hampshire Public Radio | By Josh Rogers
Published November 19, 2025

Excerpt: "New Hampshire Rep. #MaggieGoodlander joined five other Democratic lawmakers with military or intelligence backgrounds in an online video Tuesday to advise members of the U.S. armed forces that they should refuse to carry out 'illegal orders.'

"The video didn’t identify any specific order or U.S military action as 'illegal,' but the message comes at a time of flaring tension between Democrats and the #Trump administration over the administration’s deployment of the #NationalGuard to patrol American cities and military strikes against #Venezuelan drug cartels that are believed to have killed more than 80 people.

" 'Right now, the threats to our #Constitution aren’t just coming from abroad, but from right here at home,' the Democrats said as they took turns reading a single statement. 'Our laws are clear: You can refuse illegal orders.'

" 'Don’t give up the ship,' the message ended.

"Sen. #ElissaSlotkin of Michigan, a former CIA analyst who served in Iraq, led the messaging effort. It comes on the heels of Sloktin introducing legislation aimed at limiting the president's power to deploy National Guard troops in American cities.

" 'I’ve joined my colleagues in sending a clear message to our brave women and men in uniform,' Goodlander said in a statement. 'We stand with you at a moment when you have been put in a terrible position by a president and a secretary of defense who are testing the boundaries of the law here at home.”

"In addition to Goodlander — a former U.S. Naval Reserve intelligence officer — the video features Navy veteran and former astronaut Sen. #MarkKelly of Arizona; Rep. #ChrisDeluzio of Pennsylvania, who also served in the Navy; Rep. #JasonCrow of Colorado, a former Army Ranger; and Rep. #ChrissyHoulahan of Pennsylvania, an Air Force veteran."

https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2025-11-19/goodlander-democrats-military-illegal-orders

Trump Suggests Death Penalty for ‘#Seditious’ Democratic Lawmakers Who Condemned ‘Illegal’ Military Orders

“Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL," the president adds

by Corbin Bolies
Thu, November 20, 2025 at 11:57 AM EST

"President Donald Trump said on Thursday that a half-dozen Democratic lawmakers who issued a video urging military officials to 'refuse illegal orders' should be tried for seditious behavior, a crime he said was 'punishable by death!' "

#Resistance #USPol #PresidentBoneSpurs #USCivilWar #ResistAuthoritarianism #ResistFascism

Goodlander is among Democratic lawmakers urging military to reject 'illegal orders'

The video message comes as Democrats criticize President Trump's use of the National Guard in American cities and military strikes against Venezuelan drug cartels.

NHPR

This is HUGE: serving U.S. Senators and Representatives, all former military and intelligence services, reminding currently serving members of the U.S. armed forces that they can, and must, disobey illegal orders.

(can't find it on YT, so here's the Bluesky link)

https://bsky.app/profile/slotkin.senate.gov/post/3m5vtxjmgnk23

#MarkKelly #ElissaSlotkin #ChrisDeLuzio #MaggieGoodlander#ChrissyHoulahan#JasonCrow #USPolitics

Senator Elissa Slotkin (@slotkin.senate.gov)

We want to speak directly to members of the Military and the Intelligence Community. The American people need you to stand up for our laws and our Constitution. Don’t give up the ship.

Bluesky Social
Rep. Chris Deluzio & Rep. Pat Ryan on Stronger Dem Leadership & Supporting Veterans | The Daily Show

YouTube
Rep. Chris Deluzio & Rep. Pat Ryan on Stronger Dem Leadership & Supporting Veterans | The Daily Show

YouTube
"A lot of politicians who voted to send guys like us to places like Iraq, spending trillions, all of a sudden want to count pennies when it’s time to care for the veterans they sent to fight” Rep #ChrisDeluzio of #Pennsylvania and Rep #PatRyan of #NewYork talk to #JonStewart youtu.be/P9Pa1j3bok8?...

Rep. Chris Deluzio & Rep. Pat ...
Rep. Chris Deluzio & Rep. Pat Ryan on Stronger Dem Leadership & Supporting Veterans | The Daily Show

YouTube

Via the MeidasTouch Network @ 6:30 pm ET on Oct 25, 2025

#GOP leaders LOSE IT as Trump ABANDONS THEM on SHUTDOWN

#MeidasTouch host #BenMeiselas reports on how #Republicans in #Congress r flailing during the #GovernmentShutdown they & #DonaldTrump caused as #Trump has largely abandoned them 2 make them become the face of the shutdown as he leaves the country & heads to #Asia & Meiselas speaks w/ #Democrat Congressman #ChrisDeluzio about his response 2 Trump’s shutdown.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=gB0nrHgpEPU&si=Vny4XVM56TAX8v2Q

GOP Leaders LOSE IT as Trump ABANDONS THEM on SHUTDOWN

YouTube

Can the Democrats Reclaim Economic Populism?

Last week, Rep #ChrisDeluzio coordinated "…a group of rank-and-file Democrats from different parts of the ideological spectrum [to challenge] the party establishment to embrace economic populism, rather than begging for donations from the rich and participating in the corruption.”

More from #TheProspect :

https://prospect.org/politics/2025-04-01-can-democrats-reclaim-economic-populism/

#Democracy #EconPatriotism #Democrats

Can the Democrats Reclaim Economic Populism?

That challenge is key to winning back voters who deserted the Harris-Walz ticket in 2024. Some rank-and-file members are calling for something new.

The American Prospect

Take 10 minutes to watch these 5 videos from Democratic congressman Ro Khanna and Chris Deluzio.

It's a beautiful time. Because we the people have an opportunity to lead our country.

#democrats #rokhanna #chrisdeluzio

https://www.townhallcitizen.com/ro-khanna-d-ca-17-and-chris-deluzio-d-pa-17-organize-to-demand-change/

Ro Khanna (D CA-17) and Chris Deluzio (D PA-17) - organize to demand change

Invest 10 minutes and watch these 5 videos. People have the power.

Town Hall Citizen