US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Monday that he will demote Senator Mark Kelly from his rank as a retired Navy captain for "reckless misconduct" after he and other Democratic lawmakers urged troops to refuse any illegal orders. Hegseth said Kelly will see a reduction in retirement pay and a letter of censure attached to his military record. "Captain Kelly’s status as a sitting United States Senator does not exempt him from accountability, and further violations could result in further action," Hegseth said. Kelly and the other lawmakers have strongly defended their remarks, saying they were restating the law. President Donald Trump has also accused Kelly and the other Democrats of sedition, saying in a social media post that the crime was punishable by death.

Source: The Telegraph January 05, 2026 17:20 UTC