Pete Hegseth issues formal censure to Democratic senator Mark Kelly

US defense secretary also started proceedings that could strip Kelly from retired military rank and cut pension

Defense secretary Pete Hegseth said on Monday that he had issued a formal censure to Democratic senator Mark Kelly and initiated proceedings that could strip the Arizona lawmaker of his retired military rank and cut his pension, escalating a dispute that began when Kelly urged service members to resist unlawful orders.

Just days after a covert mission to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and strike the capital city, Hegseth announced that Kelly faces retirement grade determination proceedings, a rare administrative action that could see the former astronaut and navy captain demoted in his retired rank. Hegseth accused Kelly of making seditious statements" that undermined military discipline.