The US military said on Monday it was weighing a court-martial against Democratic senator and former astronaut Mark Kelly for appearing in a video urging troops to refuse unlawful orders.
Advertisement
The Pentagon’s probe marks an extraordinary escalation in the Trump administration’s backlash against six Democrats with military or intelligence service backgrounds who made the viral video.
Kelly – a decorated US Navy combat pilot and former astronaut who commanded the Space Shuttle Endeavour’s final flight – fired back that he would not be intimidated or “silenced by bullies”.
The Pentagon had threatened to recall the Arizona senator back to active duty in order to face a court-martial under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Officials indicated that Kelly may have undermined the “loyalty, morale, or good order and discipline of the armed forces”, citing laws barring interference in military cohesion.
Advertisement