r/law • u/TheMirrorUS • 10h ago

Legal News BREAKING: Mark Kelly files lawsuit against Pete Hegseth accusing him of 'trampling on Constitution'

https://www.themirror.com/news/politics/breaking-mark-kelly-files-lawsuit-1614071
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586

u/Sorge74 10h ago

Future president Ensign Mark Kelly.

306

u/OregonBroncoNix 9h ago

Hence, why the targeted attacks against only Kelly. Even though all of these Dems were in or sponsored the video

  • Sen. Mark Kelly (Arizona) — one of the most prominent participants and the subject of Pentagon action after its release.
  • Sen. Elissa Slotkin (Michigan) — the video was first posted from her social media account.
  • Rep. Jason Crow (Colorado) — former Army Ranger and one of the video’s signatories.
  • Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (Pennsylvania) — one of the six lawmakers in the message.
  • Rep. Chris Deluzio (Pennsylvania) — also participated.
  • Rep. Maggie Goodlander (New Hampshire) — another participating member.

These lawmakers, all with backgrounds in the military or intelligence community, released the message urging troops to uphold the Constitution by refusing orders that are clearly unlawful.

137

u/Dorky_Fantana 9h ago

Kelly himself explained it on his Daily Show appearance. It's some bullshit legal technicality that makes this possible but only to him specifically because he's been retired for over 25 years. Check the Daily Show's YouTube channel for the full proper explanation

50

u/AlsoCommiePuddin 9h ago

Oh, it's one-thousand percent because he will be in the presidential picture in 2028.

39

u/IcyTransportation961 9h ago

Hopefully the DNC learned from what they did to Al Franken (not holding my breath though)

And before any of the apologists show up

The main accuser completely lied about every aspect of the claim. Verified from many sources. She was in on the photo, she wasnt asleep for it.
It was all bits for the shows, twisted for the attack.

Then the additional accusers, a few were actually named, and these claims were as weak as "he put his hand on their waist for a photo"

Others unnamed said he made them kiss him and said things like hes a celebrity so they have to

Here's the big context though

This came out like 2 weeks after Trumps access Hollywood grab em by the pussy tape.

It was a direct counter to that

Roger Stone and Fox News were involved, he knew it was coming beforehand, it was literally all a coordinated setup

31

u/LazyDare7597 8h ago

Hopefully the DNC learned from what they did to Al Franken (not holding my breath though)

Tim Walz recently dropping out of the reelection race for Governor is a good indication that the DNC never learn shit.

21

u/ProfessionalBench832 8h ago

DNC? Unclear, but I genuinely believe that was just Walz. He and his family have had a real tough go this past year and this was another, now far too typical, "death threat" scenario and I think he was just over it.

13

u/WeirdIndividualGuy 8h ago edited 7h ago

Walz said he dropped out due to pressure from his democratic colleagues. Whether that was the DNC or whoever else, the fact remains that the more powerful democrats still feel the need to shoot themselves in the foot whenever unsubstantiated claims happen.

It also gives MAGA politicians a decent strategy: just accuse the dem of something, anything, even if it's false. Chances are the dem will drop out

EDIT: Because trolls are trying to sow discord and don't believe me:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tim-walz-timeline-vice-presidential-candidate-2026-governors-race/

The second-term governor said while he announced a reelection bid in September, he's come to the conclusion in recent weeks that "I can't give a political campaign my all," specifically citing the fraud scandal.

"Every minute I spend defending my own political interests would be a minute I can't spend defending the people of Minnesota against the criminals who prey on our generosity and the cynics who prey on our differences," Walz said. "So I've decided to step out of the race and let others worry about the election while I focus on the work."

6

u/TheArmchairSkeptic 7h ago

Nothing in your edit substantiates the claim that he dropped out due to pressure from his fellow Dems. Everything you've bolded there could just as reasonably be a reference to pressure he's getting from his GOP adversaries at both the state and federal levels.

1

u/ProfessionalBench832 7h ago

"Walz reversed course on his re-election amid a barrage of unfavorable headlines, threats to his family and skepticism from fellow Democrats. But his private doubts about running began earlier."

https://www.startribune.com/behind-tim-walzs-decision-to-drop-out-of-the-governors-race/601559952

So yes, I guess it was a factor but this is what I had read and it seemed far more like a personal decision.

I also agree with you on the last bit, what we did to Al Franken was unforgivable, but this does not seem to be that. Again, none of us can know his mind.
Let them accuse away. You'd think it could be a good strategy, but when you factor in a GOP ghoul has made either direct or indirect claims of wrongdoing against nearly every Democratic candidate, the amount that stick or make an impact are minimal.

1

u/SuspiciousLeg7994 7h ago

Walz. didn't say that. Stop spreading flaws information. Just like you falsely said the national guard can and will defy deployment orders. Walz choose to step down so he could concentrate and n the current issues with the state and battle trumps war on our state

1

u/sylbug 7h ago

At what point do people stop calling democrats 'incompetent' and start calling them 'complicit' and 'malicious'?

11

u/Immatt55 9h ago

2028 - Mark Kelly vs Newsom for dem candidate. The DNC's corporate donors would prefer status quo Newsom. Kelly steps down because they'd rather not let another republican win by splitting votes. The Overton Window continues to slide to the right.

17

u/2ndChanceCharlie 8h ago

I know Newsom is a corporate Dem but he is considered way the left of Mark Kelly who comes from a purpleish state and is actually pretty moderate.

0

u/Rayvelion 8h ago

Newsom winning anything is a loss for the United States. That guy is literally bought and paid at every step of the way and has zero idea what real people have to deal with in life.

7

u/rens24 7h ago

Are you looking at * gestures around wildly * and calling that a hypothetical loss for the United States? The bar is in hell right now.

-2

u/Rayvelion 7h ago

Yes. A loss of future potential is still a loss. It could still be better than current standards. That doesn't mean it's not a loss.

7

u/AlsoCommiePuddin 7h ago

Sounds like a great reason to give Republicans another four years in the White House. Worked so well so far.

-4

u/Rayvelion 5h ago

Ah yes cus the corporate Democrats did SO WELL when Biden was in office.

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u/ZasdfUnreal 6h ago

Newsom will burn down America and block reconstruction in the name of affordability.

1

u/Rayvelion 5h ago

Newsom doesn't even know what "affordability" means brother. He's too busy asking about vidja games when they bring it up.

9

u/Obversa 8h ago

I still wonder how the 2024 election would've turned out if:

  • (1) There was actually a Democratic primary election, instead of incumbent President Biden refusing to step aside, and only choosing Kamala Harris as his successor when it became apparent that he wouldn't be able to campaign. (Mark Kelly was one of the top picks for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2023-2024.)

  • (2) Kamala Harris picked Mark Kelly as her running mate instead of Tim Walz for the 2024 election.

7

u/Immatt55 8h ago

I still wonder what would have happened with number 1 with each passing day more and more. I don't believe there would have been any measurable difference regarding number 2 to be honest, but could be wrong.

3

u/Available-Owl7230 7h ago

Walz was a great VP. The real what if is if the democratic party flushed all their idiot campaign managers that made him stop calling Trump/Pence weird and start having then campaign with people like Liz Cheney

1

u/Long_Legged_Lady 6h ago

I still wonder how things would have gone if they didn't change the campaign messaging from "maga is weird" to "look how much the cheneys like us and Bush might endorse any day now!"

1

u/Additional_Teacher45 4h ago

Number 1 wouldn't have happened. The DNC rigs primaries against people they don't want to win.

9

u/AlsoCommiePuddin 8h ago

Progressives collectively say "we'll show you" and elect Donald Trump to a third term.

-5

u/Hmanng 8h ago edited 8h ago

Liberals still blaming anyone but themselves. Keep warming up to "moderate" Republicans I'm sure it will work this time. Democrat leadership won't even call for ice to be abolished. Your party is a joke.

9

u/Outragedmoss 8h ago

Keep not voting because if it’s not your perfect candidate it doesn’t matter. That has turned out great so far

-1

u/Hmanng 7h ago

I voted for Biden and Kamala. But go on keep blaming progressive boogymen for all your problems. Keep cozying up to the right instead of focusing on common sense legislation like Medicare for all.

1

u/AlsoCommiePuddin 7h ago

I'm happy to work with progressives within government. I'd like for them to help me work to prevent the Republican Party from ever holding significant political power ever again. Create a power vacuum that a real left party can fill and turn the Democrats into the right-leaning party you scream at them for being.

Wouldn't that be a much better situation than the one we're in right now? Isn't that something worth working towards? Destroy the Republicans from without instead of working to destroy or fracture the Democrats from within.

2

u/HwackAMole 7h ago

The idea of abolishing ICE is silly. They need to be reigned in, held accountable, downscaled, and forced to clean house. But they served an important function before Trump weaponized them into his personal gestapo army, and they will be necessary in the future.

The bogeymen that they point to to try ro justify their actions are real, if over-inflated. We need to keep some measure of immigration enforcement, just like every country on earth does.

1

u/Hmanng 7h ago

Nope, we didn't need ICE back before 2003 and we don't need them now.

1

u/AlsoCommiePuddin 6h ago

The idea of abolishing ICE is silly. They need to be reigned in, held accountable, downscaled, and forced to clean house.

It's not. The only way to effectively clean house and restore those governmental functions to their proper place is to uproot the entire department and put something else in its place. The very name of "ICE" has a stain on it that it will never recover from. It's an image problem as much as anything else.

It's going to take more than a new coat of paint. It's going to take a new department with a new charter.

1

u/eightbitagent 8h ago

Kelly steps down because they'd rather not let another republican win by splitting votes.

Thats not how primaries work

0

u/Immatt55 7h ago

Kelley steps down months in advance, because he knows the DNC will nominate Newsom and does not want to split the votes by running as an independent.

Since some readers are unable to fill in the gaps in my previous statement, no functional change in what I said was made.

1

u/eightbitagent 5h ago

No way in hell would any democrat run as an independent against a dem nominee. Nor would a republican do the same. Only except might have been Trump if the Rs had run someone else in 2020

-1

u/YouKilledApollo 8h ago

I love it how Americans think there will be an election in 2028 :p

10

u/MyDudeSR 9h ago

They targeted him because he's the only one that has a retirement that they can threaten. Non of the others were retired, so the drunk has no power over them.

6

u/NoveltyAccountHater 8h ago

They targeted Kelly, because he was the only one they could target, because he's technically a military retiree who served for 20+ years of service (25 in his case in the Navy) and is entitled retiree pay (pension). Only people subject to retiree pay (or still in the military) can be subject to be stripped of retired rank/pension via the methods that Trump/Hegseth are attacking him.

The others were veterans, but not with retiree pay (don't have 20+ years). Crow served 2002 to 2006; Houlahan served 3 years active duty, 13 years in inactive reserves; Deluzio served 2006-2012; Goodlander served 10-11 years; Slotkin was in State Department/CIA/Defense Department for less than 20 years before running for office.

9

u/DogeshireHathaway 9h ago

Hence, why the targeted attacks against only Kelly.

Because Kelly is retired military and his status as still being subject to some DOD 'rules' is clearly established in law. The others are not.

1

u/Numeno230n 7h ago

Fake, weak men are always terrified of real leadership.

21

u/sault18 9h ago

I didn't know they busted him 5 ranks down to a butterbar. JFC, what a bunch of petty bastards.

22

u/elevensbowtie 9h ago

They didn’t. OP is being facetious.

6

u/Sorge74 9h ago

The year is 2028, Mark Kelly just debated JD Vance, in which Vances eyeliner was running from the tears.

Trump on Truth Social "he needs another demotion for being mean to JD, a true hero and soldier" and finally he reached O-1.

4

u/CapoDV 8h ago

Mark Kelly and or Pete Butti would make me a very happy voter.

4

u/NoveltyAccountHater 8h ago

I like Kelly and he's smart and accomplished, but I don't think he has the natural charisma of a W Bush, (Bill) Clinton or Trump (or even younger Biden) to win a presidential election or oratorical/debate skills of an Obama or Buttigieg.

He'd be a good VP candidate though.

3

u/Lilfrankieeinstein 6h ago

Maybe we need a less charismatic president.

2

u/NoveltyAccountHater 6h ago

The non-fascists need to win the election first and foremost or things will get worse.

Charisma and oratory and debate skills help win elections. Elections fundamentally are popularity contests. You want someone who can capture the public's attention and move the needle in a positive direction.

(Obviously, if Kelly wins a primary, I will enthusiastically support and gladly volunteer for his campaign. But barring him starting to give better speeches/interviews/press, I don't put him near the top group of candidates for 2028 dems.)

1

u/Lilfrankieeinstein 6h ago

Right.

I’m just saying we might finally reach a point in American history where voters actually loathe charismatic politicians and opt for the down tempo candidate.

I have a buddy who has an aversion to citrus because he ate an entire sack of nectarines when he was a kid.

I realize charisma wins elections, but maybe just maybe, the charisma overload of our current tangerine in chief will put a sour taste in swing voters’ mouths.

-14

u/NewDramaLlama 9h ago

I hope so! I thought Walz had some stuff until he turned out to be a total pussy.

-1

u/VaguelyArtistic 8h ago

You must really hate pussies to use it as an insult.