Pentagon threatens Democratic senator with court-martial after call for military to refuse 'illegal orders'
Mark Kelly. Credit: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images/Profimedia
The US War Department said on Monday it was considering court-martialling Democratic Senator Mark Kelly, a former Navy pilot and astronaut, for his appearance in a video urging US troops to refuse “illegal orders”.
The viral video featuring six Democratic senators, all with military or intelligence experience, has outraged the Trump administration, with the Republican US president calling them “traitors” and suggesting they should be put to death.
Among the six Democrats is Mark Kelly, now a senator from Arizona, who was a decorated Navy pilot and went to space on several missions, including as commander of the last flight of the space shuttle Endeavour.
In a statement on social media, the Pentagon threatened to recall Kelly, who is retired from the military, to active duty to face a court-martial, saying the Democrat may have undermined “the loyalty, morale or good order and discipline of the armed forces.”
It is highly unusual for the Pentagon to publicly threaten a sitting congressman.
In the social media video, Mark Kelly appears alongside Michigan's Elissa Slotkin, Colorado's Jason Crow, Pennsylvania's Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan, and New Hampshire's Maggie Goodlander.
Donald Trump called them “traitors”
In a reaction on social media after the video emerged, Republican President Donald Trump accused the six Democrats of “rebellious behavior”, noting that it is “punishable by death” in the US.
“This is very serious and dangerous to our country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “We cannot allow their words to go unanswered. REBELLION BEHAVIOR BY TRAITORS!!! SHOULD WE LOCK THEM???” the White House leader added.
Democrats condemned the Republican president's reaction, calling the threats “absolutely vile.”
