On Monday, Democratic Senator Mark Kelly made a resolute declaration, emphasizing that he would not be silenced by President Donald Trump or Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. This statement comes in light of the recent announcement by the Department of Defense, which revealed plans to conduct a thorough review of Kelly following serious allegations of misconduct. During a news conference, Kelly stated, "I will not be intimidated by this president. I am not going to be silenced by this president or the people around, because I've given too much in service to this country to back down to this guy."
Kelly's comments are rooted in a prior incident where he, along with several other Democrats, shared a video on social media asserting that U.S. service members have the right to refuse illegal orders. This statement sparked intense criticism from Hegseth, whom Kelly labeled as unqualified for his position. Kelly further demanded that Hegseth testify regarding the controversial boat strikes that occurred in the Caribbean Sea. These strikes reportedly resulted in the deaths of two survivors after a second strike was authorized on a vessel suspected of drug trafficking, raising serious legal and ethical questions.
The White House has confirmed that there were survivors from an initial strike on the boat on September 2, and tragically, those individuals were killed in subsequent military actions. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Kelly insists that a comprehensive investigation into these strikes is necessary, especially following a report from the Washington Post alleging that Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill survivors.
During the news conference, Kelly expressed his deep concern about the implications of the military's actions, stating, "If there were, in fact, survivors clinging to a damaged vessel, that could be over a line." He stressed the importance of understanding the Law of the Sea and Geneva Conventions, which govern military conduct during armed conflicts. Kelly emphasized that anyone who needs to answer questions publicly and under oath is Pete Hegseth, urging transparency in the investigation.
In response to inquiries about the military's actions, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that Adm. Mitch Bradley, head of the United States Special Operations Command, was responsible for the order to carry out the second strike. Leavitt defended the action, stating that it was executed within the bounds of authority and law to eliminate a threat to the United States.
When asked about the Democrats' video concerning the refusal of illegal orders, Kelly clarified that it was not specifically about the Caribbean strikes. However, he expressed hope that the American public would eventually have access to the legal arguments presented to lawmakers during closed-door briefings.
In the wake of the Democrats' video, Trump labeled them as traitors in social media posts, suggesting they should face severe consequences. Kelly interpreted Trump's comments as an attempt to intimidate those who might speak out against him, stating, "This isn't about me; it’s about sending a message to retired service members, government employees, and all Americans who are thinking about speaking up, 'You better keep your mouth shut, or else.'"
Addressing the possibility of cooperating with the FBI or Defense Department in any investigations, Kelly affirmed his commitment to follow the law. He also highlighted the troubling wave of political violence in America, citing the attack on his wife, former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, as a stark reminder of the urgent need for political leaders to foster a sense of calm rather than incite further tensions. "The president's words carry tremendous weight," Kelly asserted, urging Trump to use his influence to cool escalating conflicts.