Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly made clear on Monday he’s not intimidated by President Donald Trump’s suggestion that he be hanged nor a military review by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for urging service members to disobey illegal orders.
“My family knows the cost of political violence. My wife, Gabby was shot in the head and nearly died while speaking with her constituents. The president should understand this too. He has been the target of political violence himself,” he said.
“The occupant of the Oval Office is ignorant to the Constitution and has no regard for the rule of law, trying to silence me and proposing to court martial me and threatening to kill me for fighting back,” he later continued, adding, “I’ve given too much in service to this country to back down to this guy.”
The former Navy captain said he and his Democratic colleagues made a video emphasizing the imperativeness of resisting illegal military orders, something that is already law, because “it’s good for people to get a reminder.”
Kelly told reporters he was surprised Trump reacted to the video at all, but said he’d expected the president to say, “Of course, members of the military shouldn’t follow illegal orders.”
The Arizona Democrat also said he thinks the reported follow-up attack on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean should be investigated and Hegseth and the admiral who the White House says ordered the strike should appear before Congress.
Asked if Admiral Frank M. “Mitch” Bradley committed a war crime, Kelly responded “there needs to be an investigation” by the Senate and House Armed Services committees.
Kelly told CNN on Sunday that the second US military strike on the suspected drug vessel earlier this year could be considered a war crime if it was carried out because an initial attack did not kill everyone on board.
“I hope what has been reported is not accurate,” Kelly said, adding that he has “deep, deep respect” for members of the Navy.
Kelly, who sunk two ships in congressionally approved strikes during his time in the Navy, said, “I’m concerned that if there were, in fact, as reported, you know, survivors clinging to a damaged vessel, that could be, you know, over a line. I hope it’s not the case.”
Pressed on whether the order for the second strike should have been resisted, Kelly said he didn’t want to “prejudge before we have all the information.”
He said he hopes inspectors general at the Pentagon are able to conduct an “impartial investigation,” though he noted that Hegseth has pushed out several military watchdogs and lawyers.
Kelly, a member of the Senate Armed Services committee, said he’s talked to the top Republican and Democrat on the panel about the issue and he believes Hegseth and Bradley “should absolutely appear” for testimony, though, he said, “I’m not so confident they will.”
