{"id":2534386,"date":"2026-01-13T01:49:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T06:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kelly-claims-pattern-of-political-persecution-amid-powell-turmoil-21\/"},"modified":"2026-01-13T01:50:32","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T06:50:32","slug":"kelly-claims-pattern-of-political-persecution-amid-powell-turmoil-21","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kelly-claims-pattern-of-political-persecution-amid-powell-turmoil-21\/","title":{"rendered":"Kelly claims &#8216;pattern&#8217; of political persecution amid Powell turmoil"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fkelly-claims-pattern-of-political-persecution-amid-powell-turmoil-21%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2534386&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Sen. Mark Kelly (D\u2011AZ) said the Biden governance&#8217;s opponents have fallen into a &#8220;pattern&#8221; of using government power against political foes, commenting after the DOJ opened a criminal probe into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell over testimony about a taxpayer\u2011funded renovation of Fed headquarters. The investigation, which Powell disputes, has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-muscles-out-chicago-prosecutor-hot-on-the-heels-of-powerful-dems\/\" title=\"Biden Muscles Out Chicago Prosecutor Hot on the Heels of Powerful Dems\">drawn bipartisan criticism<\/a> and Powell has suggested it may be tied to clashes with the White House over <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >interest\u2011rate policy<\/a>. Kelly &#8211; a retired Navy captain &#8211; also pointed to recent actions by Pentagon official Pete Hegseth, who sought to demote and censured Kelly for appearing in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kelly-claims-pattern-of-political-persecution-amid-powell-turmoil\/\" title=\"Kelly claims &#039;...&#039; of political persecution amid ... turmoil\">video urging service members<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-accused-of-encouraging-military-coup-with-coordinated-message-to-armed-services-personnel\/\" title=\"Democrats Accused of Encouraging &#039;Military Coup&#039; with Coordinated Message to Armed Services Personnel\">refuse illegal orders<\/a>.Kelly has sued the administration, arguing those moves amount to intimidation and unlawful retaliation that threaten legislative independence and violate the First Amendment, and his complaint says Hegseth prejudged the investigation by labeling Kelly&#8217;s remarks &#8220;seditious&#8221; before any formal finding.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Kelly points to &lsquo;pattern&rsquo; of persecution amid Powell investigation and Hegseth suit<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2471122\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mark-kelly\/\">Mark Kelly<\/a> (D-AZ) suggested on Monday that the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\">Trump administration<\/a> has fallen into a &ldquo;pattern&rdquo; of weaponizing the government against political foes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The Arizona Democrat&rsquo;s statement <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/acyn\/status\/2010821153296957451?s=46\">came in response<\/a> to questions about whether he believes the Department of Justice is being &ldquo;weaponized&rdquo; against the Federal Reserve, particularly after the DOJ recently launched <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4414264\/doj-criminal-investigation-jerome-powell\/\">a criminal investigation<\/a> into Chairman Jerome Powell. <\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4414759\/mary-peltola-campaign-puts-lisa-murkowski-tough-endorsement-spot\/\">Peltola campaign puts Murkowski in tough endorsement spot<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/healthcare\/4414614\/louisiana-attorney-general-headline-senate-abortion-pill-hearing\/\">Louisiana attorney general to headline Senate abortion pill hearing<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4413989\/rand-paul-trump-strike-iran-protests\/\">Rand Paul warns Trump striking Iran could rally protesters against US<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The investigation is related <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/mikebolen\/status\/2010835868064628884\">to concerns<\/a> that Powell lied about or misrepresented the taxpayer-funded, multibillion-dollar renovation of the Fed headquarters building during congressional testimony. It has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/finance-and-economy\/4414982\/gop-chairman-french-hill-defends-jerome-powell-break-from-trump\/\">attracted bipartisan criticism <\/a>as Powell maintains his innocence and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.federalreserve.gov\/newsevents\/speech\/powell20260111a.htm\">has suggested<\/a> that it is tied to his clashing with the White House <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/3487268\/trump-unloads-on-jerome-powell-federal-reserve-interest-rates\/\">over interest rates<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Kelly said he sees &ldquo;huge issues with what they are doing to him [Powell].&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It seems to be a pattern,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The comments from Kelly, who served 25 years in the Navy, <span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">follow the Pentagon&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4406576\/hegseth-demotes-mark-kelly-issues-censure-seditious-six-video\/\">penalization of<\/a><\/span><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4406576\/hegseth-demotes-mark-kelly-issues-censure-seditious-six-video\/\">  the retired captain<\/a> earlier this month for appearing in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3896297\/slotkin-says-trump-attacks-democrat-veteran-lawmakers-tool-of-fear\/\">controversial video <\/a>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&nbsp;&ldquo;seditious behavior&rdquo; and implied that the president &ldquo;has given illegal orders, which he has not.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Reporter: Is the DOJ being weaponized against the Fed? Against Powell?<\/p>\n<p>Kelly: I see huge issues with that they are doing to him and it seems to be a pattern. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/93rgA4JzI5\">pic.twitter.com\/93rgA4JzI5<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Acyn (@Acyn) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Acyn\/status\/2010821153296957451?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 12, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4413573\/trumps-foreign-policy-threatens-grip-congressional-republicans\/\"><strong>TRUMP&rsquo;S FOREIGN POLICY THREATENS GRIP ON CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Kelly responded by <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4415063\/mark-kelly-sues-pete-hegseth-retirement-grade-reduction\/\">filing a lawsuit<\/a> against the Trump administration. He has framed the actions from the White House as an effort to trample protections for legislative independence, and &ldquo;intimidate&rdquo; a political opponent with&nbsp; &ldquo;a censure or threats to demote me or prosecute me.&rdquo; Hegseth &ldquo;prejudged&rdquo; the outcome of his investigation into the legality of the video by declaring Kelly&rsquo;s statements &ldquo;seditious&rdquo; on social media prior to an investigation, according to the lawsuit.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The First Amendment forbids the government and its officials from punishing disfavored expression or retaliating against protected speech,&rdquo; the complaint reads. &ldquo;That prohibition applies with particular force to legislators speaking on matters of public policy.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kelly: pattern of government weaponization<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3142,"featured_media":2534387,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AP25197726245434.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[50410,7206,36034,34388,8975],"class_list":["post-2534386","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-controversy-2","tag-kelly","tag-political-persecution","tag-political-turmoil","tag-powell"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AP25197726245434.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2534386","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2534386"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2534386\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2534391,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2534386\/revisions\/2534391"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2534387"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2534386"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2534386"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2534386"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}