Wall Street Journal Rebukes Hegseth After Judge Blocks Pentagon Action Against Sen. Mark Kelly

The editorial spotlights a ruling that First Amendment protections cover a retired officer serving in Congress.

Overview

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon halted the Pentagon’s attempt to punish Mark Kelly over a video reminding service members they must refuse illegal orders.
Leon wrote that courts have not extended curtailed speech rights for active-duty troops to retired servicemembers, especially those now serving in Congress.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had sought to issue Kelly a letter of censure citing alleged conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline and conduct unbecoming an officer.
A Washington, D.C., grand jury declined to indict participants in the video after federal prosecutor Jeanine Pirro reportedly pursued charges.
The Wall Street Journal editorial board labeled Hegseth’s move an embarrassing abuse of power and noted that President Trump had denounced the video as “seditious.”