Hegseth starts proceedings against Sen. Mark Kelly over his remarks
Kelly faces proceedings that could reduce his retired Navy rank and pension after remarks about refusing illegal orders.
SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYCredibility rates West Hawaii Today, which republished this story. The other scores rate the article itself.
The reporting is attributed to The New York Times, an established newsroom with strong editorial standards. The page identifies the original publication and carries its copyright notice.
- Track record — The reporting is credited to The New York Times, an established national newsroom.
- Editorial standards — The identified reporting organization is known for formal editorial standards.
- Author attribution — The page attributes the article to The New York Times.
- Transparency — The page states that the article originally appeared in The New York Times and includes its copyright notice.
The article provides direct quotations and details of the administrative action, while presenting responses from Kelly, his lawyer and Democratic senators. It offers limited independent explanation of the Navy’s process or its legal basis.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article presents Hegseth’s allegations and the stated grounds for the proceedings, as well as responses from Kelly, his lawyer and Democratic senators. It gives less space to an independent account of the military process or a defense of the action beyond Hegseth’s statements.
- Counterarguments presented — Kelly’s explanation and objections from his lawyer and Democratic senators are included.
- Source diversity — The article quotes Hegseth and Kelly’s side, though most perspectives are directly involved in the dispute.
- Omitted context — The article provides limited independent explanation of the Navy’s procedure and legal rationale.
- Loaded language — Strong characterizations are quoted and attributed rather than adopted as the article’s own language.
The report uses largely neutral language and attributes accusations and defenses to their speakers. It includes criticism of the proceedings but also reports Hegseth’s stated rationale and the claims in his letter.
- Language tone — Mostly factual wording; allegations and evaluations are attributed to their speakers.
- Source selection — Includes Hegseth’s accusations alongside Kelly’s and his allies’ responses.
- Framing — Frames the story around the proceedings and their stated basis, without an evident partisan conclusion.
Republished with credit
Republished from The New York Times, with credit to the original publisher.
127 stories · 94–95 · updated Oct 12, 2026
This is The New York Times's own score, and this article is credited to The New York Times. The host score in the Source Check is West Hawaii Today's.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has started administrative proceedings against Sen. Mark Kelly that could reduce Kelly’s retired Navy rank and pension. Hegseth also issued a formal letter of censure over Kelly’s statements, including a video reminding service members they may refuse illegal orders.
Hegseth said the proceedings could result in a reduction of Kelly’s retirement rank and military pension. He also issued a letter of censure for Kelly’s personnel file, citing statements that Hegseth said characterized military operations as illegal. The decision on rank and pension is expected within 45 days, according to Hegseth’s message.
The actions follow a video released in November in which Kelly and five other Democratic lawmakers with military or intelligence backgrounds said service members are obligated to refuse illegal orders. Kelly and his lawyers said he was articulating a basic principle of military law; 12 Democratic senators and Kelly’s lawyer condemned the proceedings as political and an overreach.
Community verdict
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SWIPE →Senator facing military administrative proceedings over his public statements
Defense secretary who initiated proceedings and issued a letter of censure against Kelly
Hegseth's version of this story ↗President whose ire over Kelly’s video is mentioned
Part of a bigger story
40 OUTLETSHegseth censured Kelly and began proceedings that could reduce his retired military rank and pay after Kelly joined a video urging service members to refuse unlawful orders. Left-leaning outlets frame the possible rank and pay reductions as punishment for Kelly’s speech. Center outlets largely recount the censure and possible consequences alongside Kelly’s objections and legal questions. Right-leaning outlets more often present the action as accountability for Kelly’s call to refuse orders, though some report the dispute descriptively.
- ARTICLES
- 43
- OUTLETS
- 40
- AVG CRED
- 71
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