Kelly claims ‘pattern’ of political persecution amid Powell turmoil
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) saeid the Justice Department’s recent actions look like part of a “pattern” of weaponizing government against political opponents, commenting after the DOJ opened a criminal probe into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell over alleged misstatements about a taxpayer-funded renovation. The investigation, which Powell denies wrongdoing on, has drawn bipartisan criticism and Powell has suggested it may be retaliation tied to clashes wiht the White House over interest-rate policy. Kelly – a retired Navy captain – pointed to his own treatment by the Pentagon earlier this month, when Secretary Pete Hegseth sought to demote and censure him for appearing in a controversial video urging service members to disobey illegal orders. Kelly has filed suit against the governance, arguing Hegseth prejudged the matter, that the actions are meant to intimidate a political opponent, and that they violate First Amendment protections for lawmakers speaking on public policy.
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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