A Democratic senator targeted by the Trump administration files a complaint against the US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth. What an accusation
Democratic Senator Mark Kelly, a former Navy pilot and astronaut, announced on Monday, January 12, that he is filing a complaint against US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after the latter initiated disciplinary proceedings against him for a video he deemed to encourage “rebellion”notes AFP.
“His unconstitutional crusade against me sends a chilling message to every reserve member of the armed forces: if you speak up and say something the president or defense secretary doesn't like, you will be reprimanded, threatened with demotion, or even prosecuted.” added this former US Navy fighter pilot who also served as a space shuttle pilot, reports Agerpres, citing the international press agency.
Mark Kelly explained:
“Today I filed a complaint against the Secretary of Defense because few things are more important than respecting the rights of those Americans who have fought to defend our freedoms“.
Democratic Senator Mark Kelly. PHOTO EPA EFE
The Department of Defense stated, for AFP, that “it's up to date” with the complaint, but he refused “to comment on ongoing litigation”.
Hegseth, a staunch ally of Donald Trump, announced last week that the Pentagon had initiated administrative proceedings against the senator for demoting him from the rank of reserve captain in the Navy and reducing his military pension.
The measure was ordered after Mark Kelly and other Democratic lawmakers urged the troops to refuse any “illegal orders” from the administration of President Donald Trump.
“Threats to our Constitution come not only from abroad, but also from here, at home”
Kelly's November 18 video message came amid concerns among Democrats, shared privately and by some US military officials, that the Trump administration is breaking the law by ordering the military to kill suspected drug traffickers in attacks on their ships in Latin American waters.
The Pentagon claims that these attacks are justified because drug traffickers are considered terrorists.
“Today, the threats to our Constitution come not only from abroad, but also from here, at home”they denounced.
“Members of the armed forces must refuse illegal orders”
Their message caused anger in the White House, and Donald Trump accused them of “betrayal” and instigation to “rebellion“, warning them that for such acts they can be liable even to capital punishment.
“I was only reiterating the existing law, which says that members of the armed forces must refuse illegal orders” Mark Kelly said in a speech on the Senate floor on Monday.
“The strange thing is that reiterating the law is now illegal, according to Pete Hegseth“, he added.
