What Will Be the Fate of Captain Mark Kelly?

The “chickens are coming home to roost” in the case of Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Arizona) who is also a retired U.S. Navy captain. Kelly was one of six members of Congress who were in a video “urging members of the military and the intelligence community to disobey unlawful orders,” according to Virginia Allen at The Daily Signal. 

Kelly is the only one of the six members of Congress who is a retired military officer. As such, he is the only one that the Pentagon has power over. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth reported that the Trump administration is taking “administrative action” against Kelly, Allen reported.

“Six weeks ago, Senator Mark Kelly – and five other members of Congress – released a reckless and seditious video that was clearly intended to undermine good order and military discipline,” Hegseth wrote on X Monday morning.

“As a retired Navy Captain who is still receiving a military pension, Captain Kelly knows he is still accountable to military justice. And the Department of War – and the American people – expect justice,” Hegseth continued.

“Therefore, in response to Senator Mark Kelly’s seditious statements – and his pattern of reckless misconduct – the Department of War is taking administrative action against Captain Mark E. Kelly, USN (Ret).”

The Department of War has “initiated retirement grade determination proceedings,” Hegseth said, which will result in “a corresponding reduction in retired pay.”

Kelly has received a “Letter of Censure, which outlines the totality of Captain (for now) Kelly’s reckless misconduct,” Hegseth said. “This Censure is a necessary process step, and will be placed in Captain Kelly’s official and permanent military personnel file.” …

Kelly retired from the Navy in 2011, having served since the 1980s. He served as a naval aviator during the Gulf War.

Commentators with military experience expect Kelly to be court marshalled and sent to Leavenworth for a few years. Of course, Kelly has promised to fight the charges. He would be the first sitting U.S. Senator to be court marshalled.