Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is opening a new investigation into Democrat Sen. Mark Kelly after he potentially leaked classified intelligence on live TV.
Hegseth is accusing Sen. Kelly of spilling military secrets during a recent appearance on CBS News‘ ‘Face the Nation.’
While speaking to Margaret Brennan on CBS News, Sen. Kelly openly discussed U.S. weapons stockpiles.
CNN reported:
Kelly said earlier Sunday that following briefings by the Pentagon on munitions, including Tomahawks, ATACMS and Patriot rounds, he found it “shocking how deep we have gone into these magazines.”
“We’ve expended a lot of munitions. And that means the American people are less safe. Whether it’s a conflict in the western Pacific with China or somewhere else in the world, the munitions are depleted,” Kelly, who sits on the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence committees, told CBS News’ Margaret Brennan.
For reference, you can watch the clip of Sen. Kelly’s CBS News appearance here:
🚨 HOLY CRAP! SecWar Pete Hegseth has just opened a Pentagon legal investigation into Sen. Mark Kelly for possibly OPENLY LEAKING a *classified* briefing on CBS' Face The Nation
The topic was US weapons stockpiles — info that could help OUR ENEMIES
EXPEL HIM! Traitor!
HEGSETH:… pic.twitter.com/NEMdqPHBdk
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 10, 2026
HOLY CRAP! SecWar Pete Hegseth has just opened a Pentagon legal investigation into Sen. Mark Kelly for possibly OPENLY LEAKING a *classified* briefing on CBS’ Face The Nation
The topic was US weapons stockpiles — info that could help OUR ENEMIES
EXPEL HIM! Traitor!
HEGSETH: “‘Captain’ Mark Kelly strikes again. Now he’s blabbing on TV (falsely & dumbly) about a *CLASSIFIED* Pentagon briefing he received.”
“Did he violate his oath…again? Dept. of War legal counsel will review.”
The Senate needs to take action!
ADVERTISEMENT
In a post on X, Secretary Hegseth accused Sen. Kelly of violating his oath by revealing information provided to him in a classified briefing.
He vowed that the Pentagon will be reviewing it.
Read Hegseth’s post here:
“Captain” Mark Kelly strikes again.
Now he’s blabbing on TV (falsely & dumbly) about a *CLASSIFIED* Pentagon briefing he received.
Did he violate his oath…again? @DeptofWar legal counsel will review. https://t.co/mPBZHxZqpr
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) May 10, 2026
In response to Hegseth, Sen. Kelly argued that he did not leak any secrets and only spoke about open-source information:
We had this conversation in a public hearing a week ago and you said it would take “years” to replenish some of these stockpiles. That’s not classified, it’s a quote from you. This war is coming at a serious cost and you and the president still haven’t explained to the American… https://t.co/q3wX9AjRzO pic.twitter.com/5q7Gg81Xtg
— Senator Mark Kelly (@SenMarkKelly) May 11, 2026
This is not the first time that Hegseth has ordered an investigation into Sen. Kelly.
As you may recall, Mark Kelly was one of the Democrat Congress members who made a treasonous video calling on U.S. soldiers to disobey orders.
Previously, the Pentagon launched an investigation into Sen. Kelly — who is a Navy veteran — over his participation in the video.
Fox News provided some additional background:
This comes amid a months-long dispute between Hegseth and Kelly over the senator’s participation in a video with some of his Democratic colleagues in Congress urging U.S. military members to ignore “illegal” orders.
The DOJ had opened an investigation into the video posted online featuring six Democratic lawmakers calling on troops and members of the intelligence community to defy illegal orders from the federal government. The lawmakers all served in the military or at intelligence agencies.
In addition to Kelly, the other lawmakers in the video were Sens. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, as well as Reps. Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire and Jason Crow of Colorado.
“This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens,” the lawmakers said in the video. “Like us, you all swore an oath to protect and defend this Constitution. Right now, the threats coming to our Constitution aren’t just coming from abroad but from right here at home. Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders. You must refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution.”
Grand jurors declined to sign off on charges against the lawmakers in February.
In November, the Pentagon launched an investigation into Kelly, pointing to a federal law that allows retired service members to be recalled to active duty on orders of the secretary for possible court-martial or other punishment.
Hegseth has censured Kelly and has attempted to retroactively demote him from his retired rank of captain over his participation in the video, which affirms that refusing unlawful orders is a standard part of military protocol.
But a federal court ruling blocked the Pentagon from demoting the lawmaker over the video. The court also found the Pentagon likely violated Kelly’s First Amendment rights, and those of “millions of military retirees,” when it formally censured him on Jan. 5.
Hegseth subsequently appealed that ruling.
What do you think?
Should Sen. Kelly be held accountable for potentially spilling classified military secrets on television?
Here’s some thoughts from folks on X:
If this is true, Mark Kelly should be tried for treason. He knows better to reveal top secret items having been in the military. How dare him!
— Greg Wynn (@GregWynn4168) May 10, 2026
I watched this today. I couldn’t believe what he was saying, that he was putting that info out there to our enemies. I was truly shocked. We are currently at war and he just handed this straight to the enemy. He is a traitor.
Go get him @SecWar
— Twirlly (@TwirllyGirlly) May 11, 2026
Not sure what is going on in Senator Kelly’s head. All I know is he is making terrible choices being a veteran who just like the rest of us is tied to an oath to serve our country and obey the laws of the UCMJ that still apply to us. Such a tragic fall.
— Dennis Molder (@DennisMolder) May 11, 2026
Join the conversation!
Please share your thoughts about this article below. We value your opinions, and would love to see you add to the discussion!