Judges Force DOJ to Concede Senator Kelly Never Advised Disobeying Lawful Orders
A federal appellate panel expressed strong skepticism regarding the disciplinary action against Senator Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., for his remarks on troops refusing illegal orders. The judges questioned the Department of Justice’s argument that Kelly’s statement, “you can refuse illegal orders,” was intended to encourage disobedience of lawful orders. The panel highlighted that Kelly’s statement aligns with military training and questioned the basis for the Defense Secretary’s inference of intent, particularly since Kelly is a retired service member.
John Q. Hosedrinker