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

GREED AND BLEED AND SO MUCH MORE CAPITOL HILL INSANITY
-- Maggie Goodlander, MC
Mastodon Post

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1C1SNEsf1i/

Notice that Maggie Goodlander speaks of Trump's corrupt trade wars "jacking up costs for you and your family." This is the way to go when addressing the American people, whether it is direct, as in this example, or through a reporter. She did not speak in either vague or abstract terms - jacking up prices for Americans - but rather she directed her comments to YOU and YOUR family. "You" is the most important word in marketing and in writing copy for advertisements and public service announcements. "You" is the most important word when speaking to the American people. Maggie Goodlander did it just right.

: #democrats #greedandbleed #maggiegoodlander #medicade #uspol #uspolitics :

3K views · 281 reactions | I’m a hard no on spending a penny of your taxpayer dollars to rename a body of water at a moment when President Trump’s corrupt trade wars are jacking up... | By Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander | Facebook

I’m a hard no on spending a penny of your taxpayer dollars to rename a body of water at a moment when President Trump’s corrupt trade wars are jacking up...