Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly on Monday sued Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Defense Department in D.C. district court over the Pentagon’s attempt to reduce Kelly’s pension pay and rank after he appeared in a November video that urged troops to refuse unlawful orders.
The lawsuit contends that Kelly’s speech was protected by the First Amendment and that the video constituted protected speech. It also argues that the Pentagon’s retaliation violated the Speech or Debate Clause that protects members of Congress for legislative activity.
“In 1986, at just 22 years old, I took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution. I have fulfilled that oath every day since, but I never expected that I would have to defend it against a Secretary of Defense or President,” Kelly said in a press release.
