Kelly claims ‘pattern’ of political persecution amid Powell turmoil
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Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) said the Trump administration appears to be following a “pattern” of weaponizing government power, comments prompted by the Justice Department’s criminal probe of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell over alleged misstatements about a multibillion-dollar Fed headquarters renovation.The investigation, which Powell denies and has drawn bipartisan concern, comes amid tensions between Powell and the white house over interest-rate policy. Kelly – a retired Navy captain – also highlighted recent actions by the Pentagon and Trump aides against him after he appeared in a video urging service members to refuse illegal orders: the administration’s censure and move to demote him, led by Pete Hegseth. Kelly has sued, alleging those actions violate the First Amendment and improperly prejudged the investigation, and he frames them as attempts to intimidate a political opponent and undermine legislative independence.
Kelly points to ‘pattern’ of persecution amid Powell investigation and Hegseth suit
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) suggested on Monday that the Trump administration has fallen into a “pattern” of weaponizing the government against political foes.
The Arizona Democrat’s statement came in response to questions about whether he believes the Department of Justice is being “weaponized” against the Federal Reserve, particularly after the DOJ recently launched a criminal investigation into Chairman Jerome Powell.
The investigation is related to concerns that Powell lied about or misrepresented the taxpayer-funded, multibillion-dollar renovation of the Fed headquarters building during congressional testimony. It has attracted bipartisan criticism as Powell maintains his innocence and has suggested that it is tied to his clashing with the White House over interest rates.
Kelly said he sees “huge issues with what they are doing to him [Powell].”
“It seems to be a pattern,” he added.
The comments from Kelly, who served 25 years in the Navy, follow the Pentagon’s penalization of the retired captain earlier this month for appearing in a controversial video urging U.S. military members to disobey illegal orders. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth sought to demote Kelly and issued him a letter of censure, as the Trump administration argued the video marked “seditious behavior” and implied that the president “has given illegal orders, which he has not.”
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Kelly responded by filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration. He has framed the actions from the White House as an effort to trample protections for legislative independence, and “intimidate” a political opponent with “a censure or threats to demote me or prosecute me.” Hegseth “prejudged” the outcome of his investigation into the legality of the video by declaring Kelly’s statements “seditious” on social media prior to an investigation, according to the lawsuit.
“The First Amendment forbids the government and its officials from punishing disfavored expression or retaliating against protected speech,” the complaint reads. “That prohibition applies with particular force to legislators speaking on matters of public policy.”
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