In a recent episode of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," host Jimmy Kimmel and Democratic Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona dismissed the investigation led by Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The inquiry centers on Kelly's involvement in a video urging military personnel to reject what they termed "illegal orders" from President Donald Trump. The video, featuring Kelly and five other Democrats with military or intelligence backgrounds, has sparked controversy and prompted Hegseth's scrutiny.
As reported by the Daily Caller, Kimmel and Kelly expressed skepticism about Hegseth's qualifications for his role. Kimmel questioned the nature of the investigation, asking, You have Pete Hegseth, who runs the Department of War, is going to open an investigation into you, I assume into your colleagues. You will have to be interviewed by the FBI. And theyre trying to find what exactly? I mean, what even is sedition?
Kelly responded by criticizing Hegseth's credentials, stating, Well, this is the investigation because of what Donald Trump said, from what I can tell. And I dont know Pete Hegseth well. I sit on the committee that ultimately had to confirm him. So I know a little bit about his background. Hes totally unqualified And from what I can tell, and talking to some of my Republican colleagues, I mean, he just wants to please the president. And this is what he can do this week.
The Department of War has emphasized that Kelly, a retired Navy Captain, remains subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and could be recalled as a retiree. This legal framework may not extend to other former military personnel featured in the video, such as Democratic Representative Jason Crow of Colorado. The Pentagon issued a reminder that military retirees are still accountable under the UCMJ for any relevant offenses, and federal laws like 18 U.S.C. 2387 prohibit actions that could undermine the loyalty, morale, or discipline of the armed forces. Any violations will be addressed through appropriate legal channels, the Pentagon stated.
Hegseth, in a post on X, labeled the Democratic participants as the "seditious six" and reiterated that Kelly's actions would be "addressed appropriately." This investigation has drawn attention to the broader implications of military retirees engaging in political discourse, particularly when it involves directives from the Commander-in-Chief.
In a related development, Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, who initially shared the video on her X account, struggled to identify any specific illegal orders issued by President Trump during an appearance on ABC's "This Week." This lack of concrete examples raises questions about the basis for the Democrats' call to defy orders.
President Trump, in a post on Truth Social dated November 20, accused the six Democrats of committing offenses "punishable by death." This statement underscores the gravity with which the President views the actions of these lawmakers, further intensifying the political and legal ramifications of the situation.
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