A federal judge blocked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's bid to punish Sen. Mark Kelly over encouraging U.S. troops to refuse illegal orders.

U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) winds his watch as he departs the Senate floor after an evening vote at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., January 12, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo WASHINGTON,

A federal judge agreed Thursday to block the Pentagon from punishing Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly, a former Navy pilot, for participating in a video that called on troops to resist unlawful orders. U.S.

Kelly, an Arizona Democrat, sued Hegseth after the Defense Secretary moved to formally censure him for participating in a video where he told service members they can refuse illegal orders.

A senior U.S. district judge on Thursday blocked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s efforts to punish Senator Mark Kelly. n an exclamatory 29-page opinion, Judge Richard Leon tossed Hegseth’s attempt to censure the retired U.

A federal judge blocked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday from censuring Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., after he participated in a video directing members of the military not to follow unlawful commands,

A federal judge agreed Thursday to temporarily block the Pentagon from punishing Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly, a former Navy pilot, for participating in a video that called on troops to resist unlawful orders.

A federal judge temporarily blocked the Pentagon from punishing U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) by reducing his rank and pension for his participation in a video urging servicemembers not to obey illegal orders.