Senator Mark Kelly Sues Hegseth Over Censure, Demotion Moves (1)

Jan. 12, 2026, 10:18 PM UTC

US Senator Mark Kelly sued Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, asking a federal court to vacate the Pentagon chief’s letter censuring the Arizona Democrat and block a move to lower his military retirement rank.

The lawsuit, filed Monday in Washington, comes a week after Hegseth said he was taking action to demote Kelly, a former Navy pilot and astronaut who retired as a captain, and dock his pension over a video in which the senator told service members that they have a duty to disobey unlawful orders.

Kelly claims in his suit that the actions were an unprecedented violation ...

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