[Opinion] Federal Judge Blocks Pentagon Attempt to Demote Sen. Mark Kelly over Illegal Orders Video

Federal judge blocks Pentagon attempt to demote Sen. Mark Kelly over illegal orders video

Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly outside the District of Columbia federal courthouse where his lawsuit against the Department of Defense was heard on Feb. 3, 2026. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)WASHINGTON — A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction Thursday, blocking the Department of Defense from downgrading Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly’s rank as a retired Navy captain for appearing in a video where he and other lawmake…

Judge blocks retaliation against Sen. Mark Kelly for “illegal orders” video

In an opinion issued Thursday, Judge Richard Leon, senior US District Court for the District of Columbia, granted Senator Mark Kelly a preliminary injunction blocking Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from retaliating against Kelly for a video he and others made citing laws requiring refusal to obey illegal orders. The opinion’s opening paragraphs make the judge’s […]

Judge approves Mark Kelly's request for preliminary injunction against Pete Hegseth - TPR: The Public's Radio

Kelly, an Arizona Democrat, sued Hegseth after the Defense Secretary moved to formally censure him for participating in a video where he told service members they can refuse illegal orders. The post Judge approves Mark Kelly’s request for preliminary injunction against Pete Hegseth appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio.