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On Monday, the Office of the Secretary of War stepped up its preliminary review of the senator's application. Mark KellyArizona State, according to the report, to a full command investigation.
The investigation into Kelly over “serious allegations of misconduct” has intensified, according to Pentagon spokesmanfirst reported by Punchbowl News, with a new investigation conducted in conjunction with the Department of War's Office of the General Counsel.
Previously, the department stated that started an official review in misconduct allegations against Kelly over a video calling on military personnel to “refuse illegal orders.”
According to a statement made on Tuesday, November 25, the Department of War received information about potentially unlawful comments made by Mark E. Kelly. (Aaron Schwartz/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
A Defense Department spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital that the Office of the Secretary of War is “moving the preliminary review of Capt. Mark Kelly, US Navy (Ret.) into a formal command investigation.”
“Retired Captain Kelly is currently under investigation for serious allegations of misconduct,” the official said. “Further formal comment will be limited to preserve the integrity of the proceedings.”
HEGSETH RIPS MARK KELLY'S POST ABOUT HIS SERVICE: 'YOU CAN'T EVEN SHOW YOUR UNIFORM CORRECTLY'
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth listens to President Donald Trump speak during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. (Julia Demaree Nihinson/AP)
Kelly said in a statement that “every patriotic American should shudder that the President and Secretary of Defense would abuse their power by targeting me or anyone else in this manner.”
“That wasn't enough for Donald Trump to say that I should be hanged,” he continued. – That wasn't enough to Pete Hegseth threaten me with a military tribunal. Now they threaten everything I fought for and served for twenty-five years in the US Navy – all because I repeated what every service member is taught.”
Kelly added that he will “continue to do his job representing Arizona.”
“If Trump and Hegseth think this is going to stop me from doing what I've done every day of my adult life—fighting for this country—then they got the wrong guy. Tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, I will continue to do my job representing Arizona.”
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Sen. Mark Kelly, a former Navy captain, called on troops to refuse “illegal orders” in a viral video. (Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Fox News Digital has reached out to Kelly's office for comment.
