Judge Blocks Pentagon’s Move to Censure Sen. Mark Kelly Over Video to Troops
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., on Thursday temporarily blocked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s move to formally censure and demote Sen. Mark Kelly, a retired U.S. Navy captain, for participating in a video calling on troops to disobey illegal orders.
“This Court has all it needs to conclude that Defendants have trampled on Senator Kelly’s First Amendment freedoms and threatened the constitutional liberties of millions of military retirees,” Judge Richard Leon, a George W. Bush appointee, wrote in his ruling. “After all, as Bob Dylan famously said, ‘You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.’ To say the least, our retired veterans deserve more respect from their Government, and our Constitution demands they receive it!”
The order prevents the Pentagon from moving ahead with its punishment of the Arizona Democrat while he challenges the lawfulness of the sanctions.
“This Court has all it needs to conclude that Defendants have trampled on Senator Kelly’s First Amendment freedoms and threatened the constitutional liberties of millions of military retirees,” Judge Richard Leon, a George W. Bush appointee, wrote in his ruling. “After all, as Bob Dylan famously said, ‘You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.’ To say the least, our retired veterans deserve more respect from their Government, and our Constitution demands they receive it!”
The order prevents the Pentagon from moving ahead with its punishment of the Arizona Democrat while he challenges the lawfulness of the sanctions.
