Pete Hegseth escalates feud with Mark Kelly, accuses Dem senator of leaking classified Pentagon info - BERITAJA

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he has referred Mark Kelly to Pentagon lawyers complete claims the legislator disclosed classified accusation about depleted U.S. weapons stockpiles, escalating a long-running feud betwixt the 2 men.

Mark Kelly’s CBS interview

Mark Kelly said the accusation came from Pete Hegseth’s ain remarks during a nationalist Senate proceeding connected the Iran conflict. By: MEGA

Speaking connected CBS News’ Face the Nation, Kelly warned that American inventories of Tomahawk cruise missiles, Army Tactical Missile Systems, SM-3 interceptors, Thaad rounds and Patriot missiles had been heavy reduced during the Iran conflict. He said rebuilding those stockpiles could return years and time off the United States susceptible successful a early confrontation pinch China.

Hegseth responded connected X, accusing Kelly of publically discussing specifications from a classified Pentagon briefing and suggesting the legislator whitethorn person violated his oath of office.

“Now he’s blabbing connected TV (falsely & dumbly) about a CLASSIFIED Pentagon briefing he received,” Hegseth wrote connected societal media. “Did he break his oath…again?”

Did Kelly leak classified information?

A national tribunal antecedently blocked Pentagon efforts to punish Mark Kelly. By: MEGA

Kelly rejected the accusation, saying the accusation came from Hegseth himself during a nationalist Senate Armed Services Committee proceeding held connected April 30 concerning the Pentagon’s early fund and the warfare pinch Iran.

“That’s not classified, it’s a quote from you,” Kelly wrote. “This warfare is coming astatine a superior costs and you and the president still haven’t explained to the American group what the extremity is.”

During the hearing, Kelly had asked Hegseth directly, “How galore years will it return to replenish our munitions from Trump’s warfare successful Iran?”

“Months and years,” Hegseth responded. “Fast.”

Unlawful orders

Pete Hegseth referred the matter to Pentagon lawyers and questioned whether Mark Kelly violated his oath of office. By: MEGA

The latest conflict follows a broader conflict making love backmost to the autumn of 2025, erstwhile Kelly joined 5 Democratic lawmakers — each veterans aliases erstwhile intelligence officials — successful a video reminding subject unit they are legally obligated to garbage unlawful orders.

Hegseth later censured Kelly, opened a Pentagon investigation into him and sought to portion him of his retired Navy skipper rank nether a national statute allowing retired work members to beryllium recalled for imaginable court-martial.

A national tribunal temporarily blocked those actions, ruling the Pentagon apt violated Kelly’s First Amendment authorities and those of millions of subject retirees. On May 7, a three-judge sheet connected the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit heard arguments successful the government’s entreaty and appeared skeptical of the Pentagon’s position.

Separately, the Department of Justice opened a criminal investigation into the lawmakers’ video, but a expansive assemblage declined to bring charges successful February.

We want to speak straight to members of the Military and the Intelligence Community.

The American group request you to guidelines up for our laws and our Constitution.

Don’t springiness up the ship. pic.twitter.com/N8lW0EpQ7r

— Sen. Elissa Slotkin (@SenatorSlotkin) November 18, 2025