Defense secretary escalates attacks by Trump administration on Arizona senator by ordering review<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth<\/a>, escalated attacks by Trump administration chiefs on Arizona senator Mark Kelly on Tuesday by ordering the secretary of the US navy to investigate \u201cpotentially unlawful comments\u201d made by Kelly in a social media video<\/a> with other lawmakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hegseth\u2019s order came in the form of a memorandum<\/a> to John Phelan asking the Navy secretary to review Kelly and a group of fellow Democrats\u2019 comments in the video last week that sought<\/a> to remind serving soldiers and intelligence officers that they have the right to refuse unlawful orders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hegseth said in the memo that he wanted a brief from Phelan that he could review by 10 December.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Pentagon had issued a statement<\/a> on Monday that it was investigating Kelly for possible breaches of military law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kelly and the other Democrats have been accused by Donald Trump<\/a> of \u201cseditious behavior\u201d , to which Kelly has responded that the US president is using the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) against them as a \u201ctool to intimidate and harass members of Congress\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The four politicians, along with two others, had made a video encouraging US military service members to resist unlawful orders \u2013 a message that angered Trump, who posted on social media that the group were \u201ctraitors\u201d and thus could be jailed or even face the death penalty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The latest statement<\/a> from the group, released by congressional lawmakers Jason Crow of Colorado, Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania and Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, confirmed that the FBI had contacted the House and Senate sergeants at arms requesting interviews with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo amount of intimidation or harassment will ever stop us from doing our jobs and honoring our constitution,\u201d they said, adding that they had each sworn an oath \u201cto support and defend\u201d the US constitution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat oath lasts a lifetime, and we intend to keep it. We will not be bullied. We will never give up the ship,\u201d they added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n