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LiberalArkie

(19,297 posts) Mon Jan 5, 2026, 10:31 AM Monday

Pentagon cuts Sen. Mark Kelly's military retirement pay as punishment over 'illegal orders' video By Zachary Cohen 4 MI [View all]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Emile (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: CNN

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced Monday that the Pentagon is taking administrative action to punish Sen. Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain, by cutting his retirement pay for participating in a video where he and other Democratic lawmakers reminded US service members of their duty to refuse illegal orders.

Hegseth said in a post on X that the US military will reduce the amount of retirement pay Kelly receives and has issued a secretarial letter of censure, which would stand as a written reprimand but have no practical consequences for the Arizona Democrat.

“In response to Senator Mark Kelly’s seditious statements — and his pattern of reckless misconduct — the Department of War is taking administrative action against Captain Mark E. Kelly, USN (Ret),” Hegseth posted on X. “The department has initiated retirement grade determination proceedings under 10 U.S.C. § 1370(f), with reduction in his retired grade resulting in a corresponding reduction in retired pay.”

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/05/politics/pentagon-cuts-mark-kellys-retirement-pay-punishment

117 replies

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Highlight:

Pentagon cuts Sen. Mark Kelly's military retirement pay as punishment over 'illegal orders' video By Zachary Cohen 4 MI [View all] LiberalArkie Monday OP

The "We can do anything you can't stop us from doing" clause. Turbineguy Monday #1

Yes, because as spoiled children they never learned about rules. Were all our leaders the "Golden Child" growing up? LiberalArkie Monday #3

Sue their arses off NotHardly Monday #47

Can any court stop it? Until it reaches the supreme, that is question everything Monday #2

What is this thing called "Court"? LiberalArkie Monday #5

Any Federal court can halt this pending an appeal by Sen. Kelly, MarineCombatEngineer Monday #6

Thanks. I also think that he has a pension as an astronaut, no? question everything Monday #7

I'm not sure about that, MarineCombatEngineer Monday #8

And since the amount of the pensin soldierant Tuesday #113

If he was active duty while an astronaut it should be part of his Navy pension. Irish_Dem Monday #12

CAPT Kelly was a military officer detailed to NASA. He was never a NASA employee in the civil service. This action is 24601 Tuesday #117

The most deserved grade reduction I ever heard about COL Mustard Monday #22

Plus, as a Senator, he has at least a couple layers of immunity. Hassin Bin Sober Monday #26

His name is James Grazioplene jmowreader Monday #51

Yes, that's the one COL Mustard Monday #68

I never had the displeasure of dealing with him, probably because he was a tanker... jmowreader Monday #72

When were you at FSB? A good friend of mine was there in the early 1970s. COL Mustard Monday #82

Veterans Day 1986 to April 1992 jmowreader Monday #88

That would have been a fantastic time to be there! COL Mustard Monday #96

Wonder which court would take this lawsuit? bluestarone Monday #65

Or, maybe you know, could it be: MarineCombatEngineer Monday #69

It will go where's it's filed by. Most likely DC. No reason it shouldn't be DC Hassin Bin Sober Monday #110

didn;t this need a court martial or at least art 15? rampartd Monday #97

Thank you orangecrush Monday #102

Yeah, that will be a law suit the Pentagon won't win. Plus just looks petty which is the Trump admin to a tee. dutch777 Monday #4

Once again... ScratchCat Monday #9

100% vapor2 Monday #35

Seriously!!! yellow dahlia Monday #71

Kelly serves on the Armed Services Committee, and the Select Committee on Intelligence... Grins Monday #10

As the reputation of the US Military takes a hit. ... littlemissmartypants Monday #11

Show me the charging documents. Grins Monday #13

How well versed are you on the UCMJ? Officers resign commision, they aren't discharged (honorably). marble falls Monday #41

The military will start to turn against Trump. Irish_Dem Monday #14

So far, the military have been Diddling Donny's patsies. Safe as Milk Monday #45

I know, the military is up his ass now. Irish_Dem Monday #58

That would be great, if they did. yellow dahlia Monday #73

Right now they are up Trump's ass. Irish_Dem Monday #76

kellly should sue kegsbreath personally moonshinegnomie Monday #15

These nasty bastards will continue until the American voters stop them. walkingman Monday #16

Yeah, well.. whathehell Monday #46

What about the other Senators who made the same statement? Were they not all military veterans? Midnight Writer Monday #17

The other lawmakers either never retired from service or come from intelligence agencies outside the UCMJ's reach chowder66 Monday #19

Thanks. Midnight Writer Monday #20

I looked it up before I saw your post. Glad I could share what I learned. chowder66 Monday #24

That is my question, too. Deuxcents Monday #21

I posted an answer to the question above. chowder66 Monday #25

They will lose in court malaise Monday #18

Suing the military is a tricky business. ... marble falls Monday #31

The problem is this ScratchCat Monday #48

One of the first things I signed when enlisting was a waiver to my access to the Bill of Rights. The very next ... marble falls Monday #55

Two points in your post LogDog75 Monday #78

I signed those in the Cleveland Federal Building on Feb 3, 1972. It was a shock when I got them. It still is with me. .. marble falls Monday #81

I, too, stand by what I wrote LogDog75 Monday #105

Courts have recognized free speech rights are curtailed madville Monday #92

The military member is responsible for their actions LogDog75 Monday #107

Kelly earned every penny of that, and his rank. babylonsister Monday #23

He was literally just restating the military code! nt SunSeeker Monday #44

This will not stand. Hogsbreath is turning the Pentagon into a chicken shit outfit. ... marble falls Monday #27

Will Flynn be next? SheltieLover Monday #28

and his active dip shit brother Historic NY Monday #60

Oh yes. I'd forgotten about him SheltieLover Monday #61

Give me a fucking break, that's absolute nonsense. 🤬 Dave Bowman Monday #29

Childish nonsense at that! marble falls Monday #38

What bullshit. TickTock, HogsBreath. Joinfortmill Monday #30

This is such bullshit. 3catwoman3 Monday #32

What a punk odins folly Monday #33

You mean like the January 6, 2020 Insurrection? LogDog75 Monday #108

Correct odins folly Monday #109

Sue the crap out of hegsbreath vapor2 Monday #34

I first read that as: "Slap the crap out of hogsbreath". As a dyslexic, I'm up for either! marble falls Monday #36

Hegseth says Sen. Mark Kelly will receive administrative punishment for video about lawful orders LetMyPeopleVote Monday #37

Just because he says he is going to do it doesn't mean he can or will. I am pretty Bev54 Monday #39

So, we have a decorated, retired Navy captain AND former astronaut losing his retirement pay? hamsterjill Monday #40

And combat veteran at that. MarineCombatEngineer Monday #49

I'm sure it'll help recruiters bunches. littlemissmartypants Monday #70

Recruit?? Traildogbob Monday #86

Don't they still have recruiters? littlemissmartypants Monday #89

They do Traildogbob Monday #90

I think I remember Codifer Monday #93

College football was plastered with Traildogbob Monday #94

Roger that, Tdb! Thanks ❤️ littlemissmartypants Monday #111

🤜🏼🤛🏼 Traildogbob Monday #112

Memo to Pete Hogsbreath AverageOldGuy Monday #42

Ret. USMC here, MarineCombatEngineer Monday #50

FIGHT BACK AGAINST THESE TRUMP CRIMINALS! democrank Monday #43

Turn you angst into..... MarcoZandrini Monday #83

Thanks for the tip, MarcoZandrini. democrank Monday #100

I feel bad for him and his family FredGarvin Monday #52

Message auto-removed Name removed Monday #53

At least no limit to what and how they've tried to subvert. marble falls Monday #57

Statement from Senator Kellly LetMyPeopleVote Monday #54

Well, since there is no such thing as the Department of War, it has little lasting effect. sinkingfeeling Monday #56

Punishment for telling servicemembers that they should always make sure to follow the law. Mister Ed Monday #59

Kegsbreath isn't qualified to hand-wash Kelly's jockstrap. NBachers Monday #62

and yet we did nothing to the traitorous general when we were in power samsingh Monday #63

This message was self-deleted by its author Zenlitened Monday #75

What an asshole.nt jfz9580m Monday #64

If this does go to court... Pluvious Monday #66

It's "seditious" and "reckless conduct" to reaffirm the US Code of Military Justice?? Martin Eden Monday #67

It isn't seditious or reckless, that's why Mark Kelly should fight this in court ... he'll win for sure FakeNoose Monday #84

It would be a military court Martin Eden Monday #104

"Department of WAR" - courtesy of B.See Monday #74

Flag officers and other high-ranking officers and civilians must be very disappointed to have to toe the line to this mi Norrrm Monday #77

D-I-S-G-U-S-T-I-N-G Faux pas Monday #79

I think Senator Kelly will win this battle LogDog75 Monday #80

Another item for the list of things to to when the Democrats are in charge again. Buddyzbuddy Monday #85

OK Pete we will remember that is an option for once you are out of your position IbogaProject Monday #87

When Senator Kelly sues, he will have fun using these statements from Hegseth and Bondi LetMyPeopleVote Monday #91

Hogsbreath sucks... GiqueCee Monday #95

I prefer Kegsbreath, but otherwise, yeah.... sickening LymphocyteLover Monday #98

This just sucks. Talk about "weaponization of government". I thought DOD might be above that. I was wrong. Evolve Dammit Monday #99

FUCK YOU DRUNKEN ASSHOLE orangecrush Monday #101

Almost seems like Russia has taken over our government thought crime Monday #103

Sounds like a lawsuit to me. mdbl Monday #106

The Senators and Representaives ahould read the UCMJ text into the Congressional Record. rickford66 Tuesday #114

If There Is An Actual Letter OhioTim Tuesday #115

Title of OP is not the same as the actual title of the article posted at the CNN website. Emile Tuesday #116