美国联邦地区法官理查德·利昂（由前总统乔治·W·布什任命）裁定，五角大楼1月5日对凯利进行斥责，违反了凯利的第一修正案言论自由权利，以及”数百万退役军人”的言论自由权利。
利昂的裁决在凯利对战争部长彼得·黑格塞斯、战争部、美国海军以及海军部长约翰·费伦提起的诉讼期间，禁止五角大楼降低凯利的退役上尉军衔或削减其薪资。
亚利桑那州民主党参议员马克·凯利在华盛顿特区联邦法院外对媒体发言。(Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
[斯蒂芬·A·史密斯在《观点》节目中就凯利参议员呼吁军队无视非法命令的视频引发激烈争执]
法官做出裁决后，黑格塞斯在社交平台X上表示政府将提起上诉。
“这将立即被上诉，”他在帖子中写道，”叛乱就是叛乱，‘上尉’。”
他的回应呼应了唐纳德·特朗普总统此前的指责，特朗普曾称该团体存在”最高级别叛乱”，并进一步暗示应该处决他们。
这段90秒的视频最初由密歇根州民主党参议员艾丽莎·斯洛特金发布，还包括科罗拉多州的退役军人代表杰森·克劳、宾夕法尼亚州的克里斯·德鲁齐奥、新罕布什尔州的玛吉·古德兰和宾夕法尼亚州的克里斯西·胡拉汉。
裁决后，凯利表示该案件向数百万退役老兵发出了一个信息。(Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
[更多参与”拒绝非法命令”视频的民主党众议员收到美国检察官的调查询问]
黑格塞斯称，对凯利的行为展开调查是因为他是唯一一名正式从军队退役且受五角大楼管辖的国会议员。
利昂在裁决中表示，凯利在言论自由论点上”很可能胜诉”，并已显示出不可弥补的损害。
“黑格塞斯部长和他的其他被告与其试图限制退役军人的[第一修正案自由]，不如反思并感谢过去250年来退役军人在我国关于军事事务的公共讨论和辩论中所带来的智慧和专业知识，”利昂写道。
“至少可以说，我们的退役老兵理应得到政府更多的尊重，而我们的宪法要求他们必须得到这种尊重！”
战争部长彼得·黑格塞斯与其他被告一同被起诉。(Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)
[马克·凯利回避称逮捕马杜罗、委内瑞拉打击行动是’非法的’]
裁决后，凯利表示该案件向数百万退役老兵传达了一个信息：”他们也可能仅仅因为发声而被斥责或降级。”
“这可能还没完，因为[现任总统和本届政府]不知道何时承认自己错了，”他补充道。
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周二，华盛顿特区的一个大陪审团拒绝了司法部对该组议员的起诉尝试。
美联社对本报道有贡献。
A federal judge on Thursday ruled the Pentagon cannot punish Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., a retired Navy pilot, for taking part in a video that called on U.S. military members to defy “illegal orders.”
U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, appointed by former President George W. Bush, found the Pentagon violated Kelly’s First Amendment right to free speech and those of “millions of military retirees” by censuring him Jan. 5.
Leon’s ruling blocks the Pentagon from demoting Kelly’s retired military rank of captain or reducing his pay during an ongoing lawsuit he brought against War Secretary Pete Hegsesth, the Department of War, the U.S. Navy and Navy Secretary John Phelan.
Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., speaks to members of the media outside federal court in Washington, D.C.(Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
[STEPHEN A SMITH GETS INTO SLUGFEST ON ‘THE VIEW’ OVER SEN KELLY’S VIDEO URGING TROOPS TO IGNORE ILLEGAL ORDERS]
After the judge’s decision, Hegseth took to X saying the administration will appeal.
“This will be immediately appealed,” he wrote in the post. “Sedition is sedition, ‘Captain.’”
His response echoed that of President Donald Trump, who previously accused the group of “sedition at the highest level,” further suggesting they should be executed.
The 90-second video, first posted by Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., also featured military veteran Reps. Jason Crow of Colorado, Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania.
After the ruling, Kelly said the case sends a message to millions of retired veterans.(Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
[MORE DEMOCRAT REPS INVOLVED IN ‘REFUSE ILLEGAL ORDERS’ VIDEO REPORT RECEIVING INQUIRY FROM US ATTORNEY]
Hegseth said an investigation was launched into Kelly’s actions because he was the only lawmaker formally retired from the military and under the Pentagon’s jurisdiction.
In his ruling, Leon said Kelly is “likely to succeed” in his free speech argument and has shown irreparable harm.
“Rather than trying to shrink the [First Amendment liberties] of retired servicemembers, Secretary Hegseth and his fellow Defendants might reflect and be grateful for the wisdom and expertise that retired servicemembers have brought to public discussions and debate on military matters in our Nation over the past 250 years,” Leon wrote.
“To say the least, our retired veterans deserve more respect from their Government, and our Constitution demands they receive it!”
War Secretary Pete Hegseth is named in the lawsuit along with other defendants.(Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)
[MARK KELLY AVOIDS SAYING ARRESTING MADURO, VENEZUELA STRIKES WERE ‘ILLEGAL’]
After the decision, Kelly said the case was sending a message to millions of retired veterans that “they too can be censured or demoted just for speaking out.”
“This might not be over yet because [this president and this administration] do not know how to admit when they’re wrong,” he added.
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A grand jury in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday refused the Department of Justice’s attempt to indict the group of lawmakers.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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