{"id":2573504,"date":"2026-02-25T11:52:01","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T16:52:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-appeals-ruling-barring-penalty-for-kelly-on-illegal-orders-video\/"},"modified":"2026-02-25T11:53:36","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T16:53:36","slug":"doj-appeals-ruling-barring-penalty-for-kelly-on-illegal-orders-video","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-appeals-ruling-barring-penalty-for-kelly-on-illegal-orders-video\/","title":{"rendered":"DOJ appeals ruling barring penalty for Kelly on &#8216;illegal&#8217; orders video"},"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\">22<\/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%2Fdoj-appeals-ruling-barring-penalty-for-kelly-on-illegal-orders-video%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=2573504&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>Teh Justice Department has appealed a court ruling that blocked the Trump governance from punishing sen. Mark Kelly for urging military members to disobey \u201cillegal orders\u201d in a controversial video. The appeal, filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on behalf of Pete Hegseth and the U.S. Navy, follows U.S. District Judge Richard Leon\u2019s preliminary finding that the punishment likely violated Kelly\u2019s First Amendment rights.Kelly, a 25-year Navy veteran and one of six Democrats who urged service members to refuse alleged illegal orders, faced a Pentagon effort to discipline him in January after the video sparked backlash from the White House. Hegseth promptly sought to demote Kelly and issued a censure, prompting Kelly to respond with accusations that the administration intends to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >trample free-speech rights<\/a> and to weaponize government against political opponents.He filed a countersuit arguing that the First Amendment protects legislators\u2019 speech on public policy, and that the government cannot punish disfavored expression.  <\/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\">Hegseth appeals ruling blocking punishment for Kelly over &lsquo;illegal&rsquo; orders video<\/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_2508340\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">Justice Department<\/a> appealed a court ruling on Tuesday blocking the Trump administration from penalizing Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mark-kelly\/\">Mark Kelly<\/a> (D-AZ) for urging military members to disobey &ldquo;illegal orders.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The DOJ filed the appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia on behalf of Secretary of War <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pete-hegseth\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1991\">Pete Hegseth<\/a> and the U.S. Navy. The appeal comes in response to U.S. District Judge Richard Leon&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4456345\/judge-blocks-pentagon-attempt-reduce-mark-kelly-retired-military-rank\/\">preliminary ruling earlier this month<\/a> that determined the Trump administration&rsquo;s attempt to punish Kelly likely violated the senator&rsquo;s First Amendment rights.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4469297\/judge-declines-remove-prosecutors-tyler-robinson-murder-trial-kirk-assassination\/\">Judge declines to remove prosecutors in Charlie Kirk murder case<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4469304\/doj-sues-new-jersey-mikie-sherrill-order-limiting-ice-presence-state-property\/\">DOJ sues New Jersey over Sherrill order limiting ICE presence on state property<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4469223\/biden-autopen-commutation-florida-arrest\/\">Florida arrests felon released through Biden autopen commutation<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Kelly responded to the Trump administration&rsquo;s latest appeal to the ruling by accusing the department of wanting the move to trample &ldquo;the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/states-push-to-rein-in-big-tech-as-federal-gears-grind-slow\/\" title=\"States Push to Rein in Big Tech as Federal Gears Grind Slow\">free speech rights<\/a> of retired veterans and silence dissent.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I went to war to defend Americans&rsquo; constitutional rights, and I won&rsquo;t back down from this fight, no matter how far they want to take it,&rdquo; he wrote <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SenMarkKelly\/status\/2026438907684941950\">in a post <\/a>to X.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In January, the Pentagon <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4406576\/hegseth-demotes-mark-kelly-issues-censure-seditious-six-video\/\">sought to penalize Kelly<\/a> for making 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 &ldquo;illegal&rdquo; orders. Kelly, who served 25 years in the Navy, was 1 of 6 Democrats who delivered <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SenatorSlotkin\/status\/1990774492356902948\">a message<\/a> repeatedly urging military and intelligence personnel to &ldquo;refuse&rdquo; unspecified illegal orders. The lawmakers were responding to the U.S. military conducting strikes on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/here-are-the-groups-trump-has-designated-as-terrorist-organizations\/\" title=\"Here are the groups Trump has designated as terrorist organizations\">alleged drug boats<\/a> in the Caribbean and Pacific. The video <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3893853\/karoline-leavitt-damage-control-trump-piggy-comment-executing-democrats\/\">sparked backlash <\/a>from the White House, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying the lawmakers were &ldquo;suggesting that the president has given illegal orders, which he has not.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Hegseth swiftly sought to demote the former Navy captain and issued him a letter of censure, as the Trump administration argued the video marked &ldquo;seditious behavior&rdquo; and implied that the president &ldquo;has given illegal orders, which he has not.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4454856\/elissa-slotkin-mocks-good-boy-mike-johnson-failed-doj-indictment\/\"><strong>SLOTKIN MOCKS &lsquo;GOOD BOY&rsquo; MIKE JOHNSON AFTER FAILED DOJ INDICTMENT: &lsquo;TAKE A BEAT&rsquo;<\/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 countersuit<\/a> against the administration and suggesting that they have weaponized the government against political opponents. 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 a formal 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>DOJ appeals ruling on Kelly over illegal orders video<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3142,"featured_media":2573505,"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\/AP25099763116705.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[7420,7076,8294],"class_list":["post-2573504","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-appeals","tag-doj","tag-penalty"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AP25099763116705.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2573504","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=2573504"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2573504\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2573508,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2573504\/revisions\/2573508"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2573505"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2573504"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2573504"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2573504"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}