Defense Secretary Hegseth Accuses Senator Kelly of Disclosing Classified Information

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has accused Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) of improperly discussing classified Pentagon briefings during a national television interview. Hegseth announced that the Department of War's legal counsel will review the matter.

In a post on X, Hegseth criticized Kelly, stating, "'Captain' Mark Kelly strikes again. Now he's babbling on TV (falsely & dumbly) about a *CLASSIFIED Pentagon briefing he received." He further questioned whether Kelly violated his oath and indicated that the Department of War's legal counsel would review the situation.

The controversy arose after Kelly's appearance on CBS's "Face the Nation," where he discussed the Pentagon's classified briefing on the Iran war and its impact on U.S. weapons stockpiles. Kelly described the depletion of munitions as "shocking" and expressed concern over the nation's readiness for potential conflicts elsewhere.

This incident adds to the ongoing tensions between Hegseth and Kelly. Previously, Hegseth criticized Kelly for his involvement in a video urging troops to refuse illegal orders, labeling the behavior as "seditious." In response, Kelly filed a lawsuit against the Pentagon and Hegseth, alleging unconstitutional retaliation for his political speech.

The Department of War has yet to comment further on the current review of Kelly's statements.