00:02A federal judge is blocking the Pentagon from punishing Senator Mark Kelly over a video urging
00:08service members to refuse illegal orders. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled Thursday that
00:14the Defense Department violated Kelly's First Amendment rights when it tried to demote him
00:19and cut his military retirement pay. Kelly, a retired Navy captain, drew sharp criticism
00:25from the Trump administration after he and five other Democrats posted a video telling troops
00:30you can refuse illegal orders. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth launched a review, issued a formal
00:36censure and began proceedings that could have reduced Kelly's retired rank and pension. But
00:42the court stepped in. In a blunt 29-page ruling, Judge Leon wrote, quote, this court has all it
00:49needs to conclude that defendants have trampled on Senator Kelly's First Amendment freedoms and
00:54threatened the constitutional liberties of millions of military retirees. The judge barred the
01:00Pentagon from taking any adverse action against Kelly while the case moves forward. Hegseth
01:05responded on social media, saying the ruling will be immediately appealed, adding, sedition
01:11is sedition, Captain.
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