Mark Kelly Lawsuit Against Hegseth Over Censure

On January 12, 2026, U.S. Senator Mark Kelly filed a federal lawsuit against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the Department of Defense, Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, and the Navy. Kelly alleges that Hegseth’s January 5 censure, issued for “seditious conduct” linked to a video featuring Kelly and other ex‑Democrats urging service members to refuse unlawful orders, violates his First Amendment free‑speech rights, the Speech‑and‑Debate clause, and due‑process protections. The censure would slash Kelly’s retirement pay and rank over 45 days, affecting a Navy captain retired after 25 years of service. Kelly vows to stand by the video’s message and rejects any change, in Washington, DC.