Controversy swirls around Sen. Mark Kelly as former White House adviser Steve Bannon demands an urgent investigation into the Arizona senator’s recent comments about the U.S. military. Bannon, a well-known conservative commentator, is pushing for severe consequences, including imprisonment, for Kelly and five other Democratic lawmakers.
In a conversation with Military.com, Bannon expressed his belief that the actions of Kelly and his fellow Democrats, whom he calls the “seditious six,” should be met with harsh penalties. These lawmakers have faced backlash for their statements about the Trump administration, which allegedly urged troops to disobey what they described as illegal orders.
Besides Kelly, the group includes Sen. Elissa Slotkin from Michigan and Representatives Jason Crow of Colorado, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, Chris Deluzio, and Chrissy Houlahan from Pennsylvania.
Bannon, who served in the Navy for eight years, was initially skeptical about the authenticity of the footage depicting the lawmakers’ comments. “When I saw it at first, I thought somebody was messing around with AI,” Bannon remarked. “Then I realized it’s true. I have no earthly idea why they did it. … It’s insanity, and clearly they’re trying to intrude into the chain of command. That’s why there’s no defense.”
Pressure on Defense Leadership
Bannon is urging Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to address the situation swiftly, rather than adhering to the mid-December deadline for reviewing the case. On his War Room podcast, Bannon implored, “Pete, you’re secretary of frickin’ war. Recall this guy today. And let’s convene a court-martial Friday morning, 0800. And then have him in Leavenworth 0800 on Monday morning.”
A Department of Defense memo revealed that Secretary Hegseth directed Navy Secretary John Phelan to examine the “potentially unlawful comments” with findings due by December 10. Meanwhile, an extensive review into Kelly’s conduct, a former Navy captain and astronaut, is underway, encompassing the other involved Democrats.
Bannon’s harsh criticism aligns with President Donald Trump’s sentiment, who labeled the Democrats’ actions as potentially “seditious” and likened them to treasonous behavior. Trump commented, “In the old days, if you said a thing like that, that was punishable by death.”
Bannon, sharing Trump’s perspective, stated that a court-martial could have severe outcomes. “Are they going to get to the death penalty? I’m not a JAG lawyer, I think that is maybe a stretch,” he told Military.com. “But when I say serious, I believe that Mark Kelly’s going to Leavenworth.”
Kelly’s Defense Against Allegations
Senator Kelly, however, remains firm in his stance, asserting that he will not be intimidated by those seeking to enhance their power at the expense of constitutional principles. He declared, “It is right out of the playbook, you know, the playbook of authoritarianism. That’s what they do,” during an appearance on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Kelly emphasized that the loyalty of every citizen should belong to the Constitution, not to any individual leader. “Every one of us has First Amendment speech rights, and I think the president is infringing on those and he is sending a pretty strong message,” he said.
