Pete Hegseth Appeals Order Blocking Sen. Mark Kelly's Punishment For Call To Resist Unlawful Orders
Source: Huff Post/AP
Feb 25, 2026, 11:28 AM EST
WASHINGTON (AP) Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is appealing a judges order that blocks him from punishing Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly, a former Navy pilot, for participating in a video that called on troops to resist unlawful orders, according to a court filing on Tuesday.
Justice Department officials filed a notice that they wil ask a panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to review the Feb. 12 ruling by U.S. District Judge Richard Leon.
Kelly, who represents Arizona, said in a social media post that the only reason for Hegseth to appeal is to keep trampling on the free speech rights of retired veterans and silence dissent.
These guys dont know when to quit, Kelly wrote on his X account.
Read more: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/pete-hegseth-appeals-order-blocking-mark-kellys-punishment_n_699f20ede4b0ef1afcc00575?origin=home-zone-d-unit
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These guys dont know when to quit. A federal judge told Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth that they violated my constitutional rights and chilled the free speech of millions of retired veterans. There is only one reason to appeal that ruling: to keep trampling on the free speech Show more
POLITICO
@politico
Hegseth revives push to punish Sen. Mark Kelly http://dlvr.it/TR83Cm
6:27 PM · Feb 24, 2026
tanyev
(49,004 posts)🤨
JokeHer
(45 posts)What a vile piece of trash just keep on LOSING!!!!
spooky3
(38,489 posts)Last edited Wed Feb 25, 2026, 08:35 PM - Edit history (1)
Meritless and harmful charges.
Lovie777
(22,504 posts)mdbl
(8,433 posts)Or hasn't he heard the lead prosecutor has dropped the case? What an asshat.
artemisia1
(1,683 posts)Skittles
(170,618 posts)fascist thugs
Martin68
(27,451 posts)Norrrm
(4,621 posts)Generals, admirals, and other high-ranking officers must feel let down to toe the line to this drunken minor major.
Hegseth DUI/DEI hire - the minor major

Jack Valentino
(4,783 posts)because you never had a case. End of story.
Skittles
(170,618 posts)you know, because they're not allowed to go full-blown authoritarian yet
travelingthrulife
(4,998 posts)Putin's orders.
The Wizard
(13,661 posts)the Mediocre (formerly Supreme and currently compromised) Court will engage in to support Trump's fascist agenda.
travelingthrulife
(4,998 posts)We have no functional LEO or judiciary system.