Sen. Mark Kelly predicts Hegseth will 'take a hike' on court martial
Hegseth requested a report from the Navy secretary on the review of possible legal action against Kelly.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYCredibility rates Yahoo News, which republished this story. The other scores rate the article itself.
The reporting is attributed to Ronald J. Hansen of the Arizona Republic, an established regional news organization, and the article identifies its sources and quotes. Yahoo News republishes the piece with attribution, so the credibility assessment rests chiefly on the originating newsroom.
- Source type — The article is attributed to an established regional newspaper's reporting.
- Author attribution — A named reporter and originating publication are identified.
- Transparency — The article names sources and attributes quotations and claims.
- Editorial standards — The originating outlet has a recognized newsroom, though this article provides no specific corrections information.
The article provides direct quotations, a deadline and account of the review process, and differing lawmakers' views on the strikes. The Pentagon and FBI do not provide responses, and the court-martial issue is presented mainly through Kelly's account and the stated review process.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article presents Kelly's account and criticism alongside the Pentagon's review steps and contrasting congressional views of the strikes. It gives no direct response from Hegseth or the agencies, leaving the central court-martial dispute weighted toward Kelly's perspective.
- Source diversity — The article includes multiple lawmakers and an account of agency actions, but no direct agency response.
- Omitted context — The court-martial review receives little perspective beyond Kelly's account and the request for a Navy report.
- Counterarguments presented — Cotton's favorable assessment of the strikes contrasts with Himes's criticism and Kelly's concerns.
- Loaded language — Strong characterizations are presented as quotations or attributed remarks rather than the reporter's verdict.
The article reports Kelly's criticism and the possible court-martial review in largely descriptive language, while attributing evaluative claims to their speakers. It also includes opposing lawmakers' assessments of the military strikes.
- Language tone — Narration is mostly factual; sharper language appears in attributed quotations.
- Source selection — The article includes Kelly, Cotton and Himes, as well as reported agency actions.
- Framing — The headline foregrounds Kelly's prediction, but the body supplies procedural context.
Republished with credit
Republished from USA Today, with credit to the original publisher.
21 stories · 79–81 · updated Oct 11, 2026
This is USA Today's own score, and this article is credited to USA Today. The host score in the Source Check is Yahoo News's.
Sen. Mark Kelly said he expects Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to drop a possible court-martial review, while warning he would not back down. The Navy secretary is due to report to Hegseth by Dec. 10 on any potential case against Kelly over a video urging service members to refuse illegal orders.
Kelly said at a Dec. 5 town hall that he had received little communication from the Pentagon and criticized the FBI and Justice Department. He called the threatened legal consequences unconstitutional and said he expected Hegseth to “take a hike,” though he added that he was prepared for a prosecution. The Pentagon is weighing a possible court martial, and Hegseth asked the Navy secretary to report on the review by Dec. 10.
Kelly also discussed U.S. military strikes on boats in international waters, saying he wanted lawmakers to see video and related documents and question witnesses before judging their legality. Sen. Tom Cotton called the strikes “highly lawful and lethal,” while Rep. Jim Himes described them as among the most troubling events he had seen in public service. House and Senate committees planned to review the strikes.
Community verdict
24 VOTESPeople in this story
SWIPE →Secretary of Defense overseeing a review of possible legal action against Kelly
Senator responding to a possible court-martial review and commenting on military strikes
Kelly's version of this story ↗Senator who appeared in the video urging service members to refuse illegal orders
President whose response to the lawmakers' video forms background to the review
Representative who appeared in the video urging service members to refuse illegal orders
Representative who appeared in the video urging service members to refuse illegal orders
Representative who appeared in the video urging service members to refuse illegal orders
Senator who called the military strikes lawful
Representative who criticized the military strikes after reviewing video
Representative who appeared in the video urging service members to refuse illegal orders
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