1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to publicly support and defend United States Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) in response to recent actions taken by the Department of Defense under Secretary Pete Hegseth that directly challenge a sitting Senator’s constitutional rights and service record. On January 5, 2026, Secretary Hegseth issued a formal letter of censure to Senator Kelly and initiated administrative proceedings that could lead to the reduction of his retired Navy rank and retirement pay. These actions stem from Senator Kelly’s participation in a video urging U.S. service members to uphold the Constitution by refusing unlawful orders. The Pentagon characterized the statements as undermining military discipline, despite the long-standing legal principle that service members must reject illegal orders.  Senator Kelly is a decorated veteran with over twenty-five years of service, including thirty-nine combat missions and four space missions. He has dedicated his life to defending this country and the Constitution, including the First Amendment rights of all Americans. The use of the Pentagon’s administrative process in this context raises serious concerns about retaliation against a lawmaker for exercising free speech and expressing constitutional views.  Actions that appear to politicize military justice procedures against elected officials set a troubling precedent. They risk chilling the free speech rights of veterans, public servants, and members of Congress — particularly when those statements address the proper boundaries of lawful military orders under U.S. law. I respectfully request that you: 1. Publicly affirm the constitutional protections afforded to members of Congress, including free speech under the First Amendment. 2. Condemn any use of military administrative processes as political retaliation against a Senator acting within the scope of constitutional speech. 3. Support safeguarding the non-partisan integrity of the U.S. Armed Forces and respect for veterans who speak on matters of law and national defense. Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your service to our country.