Hold onto your hats, folks—Senate Republicans are sounding the alarm over a Pentagon investigation into Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) that’s starting to look more like a political vendetta than a pursuit of justice.
According to The Hill, the crux of the matter is a video Kelly made with fellow congressional Democrats, reminding military personnel of their obligation to reject unlawful orders, which has now spiraled into an escalated “official Command Investigation” under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, drawing sharp unease from GOP senators over its merit and potential fallout.
This saga kicked off nearly a month ago when Kelly, a retired Navy captain, joined forces with other Democrats, including Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) and several House members, to produce the controversial video.
Shortly after the video dropped, the Defense Department received what it called “serious allegations of misconduct” against Kelly, prompting an initial review that has since ballooned into a full-blown probe.
Defense Secretary Hegseth didn’t waste time, ordering the Navy to wrap up its report by Dec. 10 and submit it to the department’s Office of General Counsel, though what’s in that report remains anyone’s guess.
Last week, the Navy delivered its findings on possible punishments for Kelly, but the Pentagon has stayed mum, referring only to its Monday statement announcing the investigation’s escalation.
Some Senate Republicans aren’t buying what Hegseth is selling, with at least five, including Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), voicing serious doubts about the investigation’s legitimacy.
“I think it’s a terrible idea,” said Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), cutting straight to the chase on why this probe might be more trouble than it’s worth.
Let’s unpack that—while conservatives often bristle at progressive posturing, using the Pentagon as a battering ram against a sitting senator, even one with a questionable video, feels like a dangerous overreach that could boomerang on the GOP down the line.
Other GOP voices, like Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a retired Marine, have criticized Kelly’s role in the video as unwise or irresponsible, yet they’re scratching their heads over whether this investigation is necessary.
“I don’t believe taking part in the video was very wise,” admitted Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), before adding, “But I don’t know if it broke any laws.”
Here’s the rub—while Kelly’s message might have been a clumsy jab at the administration, turning the Defense Department into a political weapon risks setting a precedent that could haunt conservatives when the tables turn.
Meanwhile, Kelly himself isn’t backing down, clashing with Hegseth during a Capitol Hill briefing on Tuesday, where the two reportedly had a lengthy exchange, though specifics remain under wraps.
Of the six lawmakers in the video, Kelly is the only one under the Defense Department’s jurisdiction as a retired military member, making him the sole target of this probe—a detail that only fuels suspicions of selective retribution.