UPDATE: The Pentagon has just escalated its investigation into Senator Mark Kelly following a tense exchange with Pete Hegseth during a classified briefing. The situation is developing rapidly, with significant implications for military oversight and political accountability.
During the briefing, Kelly challenged Hegseth over the Pentagon’s conduct regarding military operations in the Caribbean. Hegseth, a retired Navy veteran, avoided answering Kelly’s direct question about recent strikes, instead referencing a controversial video where Kelly and other former military officials urged troops to disobey potential “illegal orders” from the Trump Administration. “He actually brought it up in the brief, oddly,” Kelly stated. “It shows this is very performative for him.”
Senator Chris Coons confirmed that the issue arose “tangentially” during discussions about a September strike that resulted in the deaths of survivors from a Venezuelan drug trafficking boat. Hegseth revealed that the footage of this incident will only be accessible to members of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, of which Kelly is a part. He is scheduled to view the footage on Wednesday.
The Pentagon’s decision to escalate the investigation into Kelly stems from potential misconduct linked to his video comments, which have sparked warnings of possible court martial proceedings. Hegseth’s remarks during the briefing have drawn scrutiny, with Kelly noting, “I said, ‘Hey, these are the same views you had in 2016,’” highlighting the continuity of Hegseth’s stance on military orders.
Kelly accused the Trump administration of lacking transparency on foreign policy matters regarding Venezuela, specifically pointing towards potential regime change efforts against President Nicolás Maduro. A spokesperson for Senator Dan Sullivan, also on the Armed Services Committee, condemned Kelly’s video as “irresponsible” but added that he does not believe it warrants an investigation by the Pentagon.
The ramifications of this investigation could significantly impact Kelly’s political standing and military oversight practices, raising questions about accountability among former military personnel in political roles. As this situation unfolds, all eyes will be on the Senate Armed Services Committee and how they respond to the emerging details.
What happens next? Kelly is set to view the controversial footage on Wednesday, and further developments from the Pentagon’s investigation could emerge in the coming days. Stay tuned for more updates on this urgent situation.
