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US judge blocks Hegseth's bid to punish Mark Kelly over 'illegal orders' video | US politics

Kelly sued after the Pentagon moved to penalize him for urging service members to reject unlawful orders.

US judge blocks Hegseth's bid to punish Mark Kelly over 'illegal orders' video | US politics
Image · The Guardian

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Outlet credibilityThe Guardian83/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 10, 2026
Feb 12, 2026
tl;dr

A federal judge blocked the Pentagon from reducing Sen. Mark Kelly’s retired military rank and pension over his remarks urging troops to reject unlawful orders. The ruling came after Kelly sued Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s effort to penalize him.

Community verdict

12 VOTES
How does this story look for
Mark Kelly D · AZ · SEN

Counts every outlet’s report of this story. See all 75

● OPEN
  • Readers of left-leaning coverage: 60% good look
  • Readers of right-leaning coverage: not enough votes yet
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Votes cast on this page: ▲ 0 · ◆ 0 · ▼ 0

People in this story

SWIPE →
Mark Kelly
D · AZ · SEN

Senator whose retired military rank and pension the Pentagon sought to reduce

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Pete Hegseth
R · Secretary of Defense

Secretary of Defense whose effort to reduce Kelly’s rank and pension was blocked

Hegseth's version of this story ↗
Elissa Slotkin
D · MI · SEN

Senator from Michigan featured in the video and commenting on the grand jury decision

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President whose administration’s actions and arguments are discussed

Representative from Pennsylvania featured in the video

Representative from New Hampshire featured in the video

Representative from Pennsylvania featured in the video

Jason Crow
D · CO-6

Representative from Colorado featured in the video

ALSO MENTIONED  Richard Leon, Federal judge who blocked the Pentagon’s effort against Kelly

Part of a bigger story

28 OUTLETS
Judge Blocks Pentagon Action Against Senator Mark Kelly

A federal judge temporarily blocked Pentagon action against Senator Mark Kelly over a video urging service members to resist unlawful orders. The ruling pauses potential penalties connected to his statements. Left-leaning outlets emphasize the ruling as a defense of Kelly’s First Amendment rights. Center outlets focus on Kelly’s lawsuit and the legal arguments, including the government’s response. Right-leaning outlets emphasize Hegseth’s stated plan to appeal.

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