Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) said Tuesday on ABC’s “The View” that he intends to keep fighting the Trump administration after suing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over an attempted censure, a dispute that could ultimately reach the Supreme Court.
The case stems from a video Kelly released last year with five other Democratic lawmakers reminding U.S. service members of their duty to refuse unlawful orders. The Pentagon moved to take administrative action against Kelly over the video, seeking to reduce his rank and cut his pay. A federal judge ruled in Kelly’s favor, blocking the Pentagon from enforcing the censure. Hegseth is now appealing that ruling.
Co-host Sunny Hostin asked Kelly why the fight matters so much to him.
“Well, first of all, it’s not about me, right? We said something last year. Donald Trump said we should be hanged, executed, prosecuted. He couldn’t even get the order right. Then he tried to indict us and send us to jail. That didn’t work. And then Pete Hegseth tried to reduce me in rank, take away my pension after 25 years of service to this country. So then I sued him. And then he appealed. And it might go to the Supreme Court. But, you know, here’s the thing, this isn’t about me, this is about all the other veterans and retired service members out there.”
Kelly, a retired Navy combat pilot and NASA astronaut, said he believes the administration’s goal is to silence dissent among veterans and retired service members.
“They want to shut us up. They don’t want people speaking out. They don’t want accountability. They don’t want anybody speaking truth to power. But it’s not going to shut me up. You know I’ll go to jail if I have to over this. I don’t mind, I mean, if that’s what it takes.”
He said he has no plans to back down from the confrontation.
“I’m going to continue to fight. I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to hold this administration accountable.”
