Sen. Mark Kelly reacts to criticism from Pete Hegseth by filing a lawsuit

Senator Mark Kelly Files Lawsuit Against Army Secretary

Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona has taken legal action against the Secretary of the Army, Pete Hegseth, following accusations from Hegseth that Kelly incited military personnel to disobey orders from the administration. Kelly countered that he supports service members in refusing illegal commands only.

“I filed the lawsuit against the Secretary of Defense because few things are more important than protecting the rights of the very Americans who fought to protect our freedoms,” Kelly remarked.

Hegseth critiqued Kelly, a former Navy officer, for suggesting reductions to the senator’s military retirement benefits.

“Pete Hegseth is coming after what I earned during my 25 years of military service. He has violated my rights as an American, as a veteran, and as a senator meant to hold him and others in this administration accountable,” Kelly added in a social media statement. “His unconstitutional campaign against me sends a chilling message to all veterans: If you speak out about something the president and Secretary of Defense don’t like, you will face censure, threats of demotion, and even prosecution.”

Kelly further claimed that Hegseth is targeting him specifically and aims to intimidate other critics of the current administration.

In closing, Kelly reiterated the importance of his lawsuit, stressing the need to safeguard the rights of Americans who have fought for freedoms.

References in the lawsuit include Hegseth, the Department of Defense, and the U.S. Navy as defendants.

Former President Donald Trump also accused Kelly of incitement, asserting, “This is incitement at the highest level, and incitement is a serious crime. There can be no other interpretation of what they said!” on social media.

Hegseth warned that Kelly could face further consequences for his remarks, claiming, “Captain Kelly’s status as a sitting senator does not exempt him from liability, and further violations may lead to more actions,” referencing public statements Kelly made regarding lawful military operations from June to December 2025.