That Seditious Six Senator Just Got Some BAD News… And It Ain’t Over Yet!

The news cycle may have moved on from that ‘illegal orders’ stunt the Dems pulled in the fall… but the Pentagon hasn’t.

Much to his chagrin, Senator Kelly won’t find himself looking at the wrong end of a hangman’s rope. Really, that was never really going to happen.

But that doesn’t mean that Uncle Sam has no recourse when they decide one of their own has gone rogue.

Yes, retired veterans and officers, too. Especially officers, if we’re honest about the difference in implications between a new recruit talking smack vs someone who, after years of service and commanding others, really ought to know better.

The seditious senator may have been confused as to what rights and obligations continue even after an officer retires from the armed forces. To invoke a phrase from ‘My Cousin Vinny’, Pete Hegseth is here to ‘un-confuse’ him.

After the specified review by military higher-ups, corrective action has been decided upon. Pete tweeted the following on X:

Six weeks ago, Senator Mark Kelly — and five other members of Congress — released a reckless and seditious video that was clearly intended to undermine good order and military discipline. As a retired Navy Captain who is still receiving a military pension, Captain Kelly knows he is still accountable to military justice. And the Department of War — and the American people — expect justice.

Therefore, 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). 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.

To ensure this action, the Secretary of War has also issued a formal Letter of Censure, which outlines the totality of Captain (for now) Kelly’s reckless misconduct. This Censure is a necessary process step, and will be placed in Captain Kelly’s official and permanent military personnel file.

Captain Kelly has been provided notice of the basis for this action and has thirty days to submit a response. The retirement grade determination process directed by Secretary Hegseth will be completed within forty five days.

Captain Kelly’s status as a sitting United States Senator does not exempt him from accountability, and further violations could result in further action.

These actions are based on Captain Kelly’s public statements from June through December 2025 in which he characterized lawful military operations as illegal and counseled members of the Armed Forces to refuse lawful orders. This conduct was seditious in nature and violated Articles 133 and 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, to which Captain Kelly remains subject as a retired officer receiving pay.

Captain (for now).

Further actions could result in further action.

Perhaps those in the know could weigh in on just how big a drop in rank he is likely to face. Surely there are sophisticated protocols and guidelines for such situations.

But 45 days hence, that senator will be acknowledged as something less than ‘captain’.