Representative Greg Stanton (D-AZ), along with Congresswomen Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ) and Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ), have sent a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth opposing an investigation into Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ).
The controversy began when Kelly and five other lawmakers released a video restating an existing military principle that service members must obey lawful orders but are not required to carry out unlawful ones.
Following the video's release, President Donald Trump called the content "seditious" and stated the members' conduct was "punishable by death."
Secretary Hegseth then opened an investigation into alleged misconduct and publicly referred to the group as the "Seditious Six."
The Conflict
In their November 26 letter, the Congress members requested that Hegseth close the investigation and stop using what they called "dangerous rhetoric."
Additionally, they noted that Kelly and the other lawmakers have been receiving death threats.
The letter highlighted Kelly's military service, including more than 39 combat missions during Desert Storm and four Space Shuttle command missions.
The representatives then argued that investigating a member of Congress for restating established legal principles conflicts with constitutional protections and the Defense Department's nonpartisan tradition.
"Senator Kelly is a combat veteran and a patriot," Stanton wrote. "His message to the troops was not one of disobedience but of conscience — service members swear an oath to the U.S. Constitution, not to any one man."
Stanton continued that "Trump is turning the Pentagon into a tool of political intimidation, while calling for the execution of sitting Members of Congress."
The lawmakers argued that free speech protections apply to members of Congress and that accurately describing military law does not constitute sedition.
They called on Hegseth to publicly affirm that service members are bound only by lawful orders and to clarify that the department will not punish protected speech.
Stanton emphasized that Kelly has support from his Arizona colleagues during this situation.
