US judge blocks Hegseth’s bid to punish Mark Kelly over ‘illegal orders’ video

The Guardian - World NewsEN 3 min read 100% complete by Sara BraunFebruary 12, 2026 at 08:04 PM

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

A US judge blocked the Pentagon from reducing Senator Mark Kelly's military rank and pension pay after he appeared in a video urging troops to reject unlawful orders. The ruling is a setback for efforts to punish perceived political enemies. Defense secretary Pete Hegseth issued a censure letter against Kelly, claiming he undermined military discipline, after Kelly and other Democratic lawmakers criticized Trump's deployment of troops in cities. Kelly then sued Hegseth's attempt to reduce his rank and pension. A grand jury also declined to indict the members of Congress featured in the video. Trump administration lawyers argued the lawsuit was premature and a matter of military discipline outside the judiciary's purview.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Chrissy Houlahan 40% Jason Crow 40% Chris Deluzio 40% Maggie Goodlander 40% Washington DC ×250% Elissa Slotkin ×250% Pentagon 60% Pete Hegseth ×470% Richard Leon ×270% United States ×370% Donald Trump ×480% Mark Kelly ×1090%

Keywords

unlawful orders 90% military discipline 70% political vengeance 60% judicial ruling 50% pension pay 50% first amendment 50% military rank 50% censure letter 40%