Senator Mark Kelly Vows to Fight Back Against Military Demotion Threat

Senate leader and retired Navy captain Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., has vowed to challenge Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s decision to downgrade his military retirement rank and pay in a move he called an attack on constitutional rights.

Kelly issued a strong statement Tuesday after Hegseth announced the issuance of a formal letter of censure against him. The letter, which will be placed in Kelly’s military personnel file, is described by Hegseth as “a necessary process step” to proceedings that could result in demotion of Kelly’s retired rank and pay.

At a Capitol Hill news conference Tuesday covered by Newsmax, Kelly holding a copy of the letter stated: “What Secretary Hegseth did in sending this letter is an erosion of every U.S. citizens’ First Amendment rights.”

“The point is they’re trying to shut me up, and that’s not going to happen,” Kelly said. “So whether I win or lose this, that’s not the consequential thing.

“The consequential thing is, do Americans still speak out against this government? I view that not only as a right but a responsibility, especially in my job on the Armed Services Committee.”

Kelly emphasized his oversight responsibilities for the Department of Defense and Intelligence Committee. “I have spoken truthfully and lawfully about matters I believe are critical to our nation’s security,” he said. “This White House’s response is that I should be executed.”

Kelly was referring to a Truth Social post written by President Donald Trump after Kelly and five other lawmakers participated in a video calling on troops to resist unlawful orders. The lawmakers involved — Kelly, Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Reps. Jason Crow of Colorado, Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, and Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire — all have military or intelligence backgrounds.

Slotkin later acknowledged that no illegal orders had been given to military personnel before the video appeared.

Kelly said Hegseth’s letter contains statements “that are not even true,” though he did not elaborate. The New York Times reported that the letter accused Kelly of engaging in a “sustained pattern of public statements” over six months beginning in June that portrayed lawful military operations as “illegal.”

Kelly criticized the administration for attempting to silence dissent, stating: “They’re trying to stifle speech, not just from U.S. senators, but from the public as well. This president doesn’t like people that disagrees with them.”

The White House and Department of Defense have been contacted for comment.

Michael Katz is a Newsmax reporter with more than 30 years of experience reporting and editing on news, culture, and politics.