The Division of Protection, which is the authorized title of the division, introduced by way of an announcement that they had been investigating Sen. Mark Kelly for misconduct associated to his participation in a video the place he and different veterans in Congress urged members of the navy to not observe unlawful orders.
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The Pentagon introduced in an announcement:
The Division of Struggle has acquired severe allegations of misconduct in opposition to Captain Mark Kelly, USN (Ret.). In accordance with the Uniform Code of Navy Justice, 10 U.S.C. § 688, and different relevant rules, an intensive assessment of those allegations has been initiated to find out additional actions, which can embody recall to energetic obligation for court-martial proceedings or administrative measures.
This matter shall be dealt with in compliance with navy regulation, making certain due course of and impartiality. Additional official feedback shall be restricted, to protect the integrity of the proceedings. The Division of Struggle reminds all people that navy retirees stay topic to the UCMJ for relevant offenses, and federal legal guidelines reminiscent of 18 U.S.C. § 2387 prohibit actions supposed to intrude with the loyalty, morale, or good order and self-discipline of the armed forces.
Any violations shall be addressed via acceptable authorized channels. All servicemembers are reminded that they’ve a authorized obligation underneath the UCMJ to obey lawful orders and that orders are presumed to be lawful. A servicemember’s private philosophy doesn’t justify or excuse the disobedience of an in any other case lawful order.
Sen. Kelly responded with an announcement saying that he won’t be intimidated:
After I was 22 years previous, I commissioned as an Ensign in the US Navy and swore an oath to the Structure. I upheld that oath via flight college, a number of deployments on the USS Halfway, 39 fight missions in Operation Desert Storm, check pilot college, 4 house shuttle flights at NASA, and daily since I retired – which I did after my spouse Gabby was shot within the head whereas serving her constituents.
In fight, I had a missile blow up subsequent to my jet and flew via anti-aircraft fireplace to drop bombs on enemy targets. At NASA, I launched on a rocket, commanded the house shuttle, and was a part of the restoration mission that introduced house the our bodies of my astronaut classmates who died on Columbia. I did all of this in service to this nation that I like and has given me a lot.
Secretary Hegseth’s tweet is the primary I heard of this. I additionally noticed the President’s posts saying I needs to be arrested, hanged, and put to demise. If that is meant to intimidate me and different members of Congress from doing our jobs and holding this administration accountable, it gained’t work. I’ve given an excessive amount of to this nation to be silenced by bullies who care extra about their very own energy than defending the Structure.
Kelly’s fellow Arizona US Senator, Reuben Gallego, unloaded on Sec. Hegseth on CNN.
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