Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) blasted the Pentagon’s ongoing probe into him Tuesday.
“This is all a bunch of bulls—,” Kelly told reporters on Capitol Hill.
The Defense Department said Monday it is escalating its review into Kelly, a retired Navy captain, over a Nov. 18 video in which and other Democrats told U.S. service members to “refuse illegal orders.”
A Pentagon official told The Hill that Kelly is under investigation for “serious allegations of misconduct,” with the department previously saying he could be recalled to active duty for a court-martial.
The Navy submitted its report on potential punishments against Kelly to the department’s Office of General Counsel last week, although its contents are unclear.
Kelly has pushed back against the probe, arguing he — along with Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) and Democratic Reps. Chris Deluzio (Pa.), Maggie Goodlander (N.H.), Chrissy Houlahan (Pa.) and Jason Crow — was exercising his First Amendment right and is being targeted by the Trump administration.
“This is just about sending a message to retired service members, active duty service members, government employees: Do not speak out against this president, or there will be consequences,” the Arizona Democrat said Tuesday.
Senate Democrats have slammed the probe, with Kelly’s 12 Democratic colleagues on the Armed Services Committee calling it “an outright, brazen abuse of power” last week.
Some Senate Republicans, including Sens. Rand Paul (Ky.) and Susan Collins (Maine), have also expressed concerns with the investigation.
“I think it’s a terrible idea,” Paul told reporters Tuesday.
Others, including Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), criticized Kelly for participating in the video but doubted whether it was illegal or if the probe is an effective use of the Pentagon’s time.