00:00Today, a federal court made clear that Pete Hegseth violated the Constitution when he tried to punish me for something
00:06I said.
00:07But this case was never just about me.
00:10This administration was sending a message to millions of retired veterans that they too can be censured or demoted just
00:19for speaking out.
00:21That's why I couldn't let this stand.
00:23Now, this is a critical moment to show this administration that they can't keep undermining the freedoms that generations of
00:32Americans like me went to war to defend.
00:36The First Amendment, it's a foundation of our democracy.
00:41It's how we demand better of presidents like Donald Trump,
00:45whether they're jacking up the cost of groceries with tariffs or sending massed immigration agents to intimidate American communities.
00:55But Donald Trump and his administration, they don't like accountability.
01:00They don't like it when journalists report on the consequences of their policies.
01:06They don't like it when retired veterans question them.
01:09And they don't like it when millions of everyday Americans peacefully protest.
01:16That's why they're cracking down on our rights and trying to make examples out of anybody they can.
01:24Now, that's not how we do things in the United States of America.
01:28I didn't ask for this fight.
01:30But I've been defending the Constitution since I was commissioned as an ensign in the United States Navy.
01:36And after decades of public service, I can't think of anything more important that I can do for my country
01:44than defending the free speech rights of millions of retired veterans and millions of Americans.
01:52I appreciate the judge's careful consideration of this case and the clarity of his ruling.
01:59But I also know that this might not be over yet because this president and this administration do not know
02:08how to admit when they're wrong.
02:11But one thing is for sure.
02:13However hard the Trump administration may fight to punish me and silence others,
02:20I'm going to fight ten times harder because this, this fight, is too important.
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