A viral social media post falsely claims Senator Mark Kelly faced military punishment. The posts allege that Kelly was found guilty of insubordination and inciting insurrection by a general court-martial, resulting in the loss of his rank and pension, and a dishonorable discharge.
However, there is no evidence to support these claims. Senator Kelly, a retired Navy captain and former astronaut, continues to serve as a US senator for Arizona. Public records and credible news reports do not indicate any recall to active duty, court-martial proceedings, or any form of military discharge for Senator Kelly.
A federal judge previously blocked a move by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to demote Kelly concerning his involvement in a video that encouraged service members to decline unlawful orders.
In November 2025, a video featuring several Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Kelly, was released. The video urged members of the military and intelligence community to uphold the Constitution and refuse illegal orders. Other featured lawmakers included Reps. Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio, Chrissy Houlahan, and Maggie Goodlander.
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