The Department of War’s investigation into Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) over allegations of “misconduct” for a video posted to social media is set to bolster the campaign coffers of the retired Navy captain, as well as other Democratic lawmakers and candidates.
The Pentagon’s threat of court-martial proceedings for Kelly, who appeared in a video with other Democratic veterans in Congress warning service members not to follow unspecified illegal orders from the Trump administration, has made the Arizona Democrat the star of fundraising pitches.
In the 24 hours since the Pentagon revealed it was conducting a “thorough review” of his actions, Kelly has been the subject of at least a dozen text and email fundraising pitches. Two were directly from his campaign, while the others were from various prominent Democrats to split donations with Kelly, including Gov. Wes Moore (D-MD), Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH), Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ).
“Let’s call this what it is: Political persecution,” a Kelly campaign fundraising text reads. “The point is that I need you to chip in $10 or whatever you can afford so we have the resources necessary to fight back against what comes next.”
Another read: “If you could split a donation between me and Chris Pappas to help us prepare for any outcome, I’d really appreciate it.”
The Kelly campaign did not respond to a request for comment. Kelly is not up for reelection until 2028.
The fundraising pitches mark the latest example of a tactic used by both political parties to capitalize on donations using political news events. Kelly, a retired military service member, remains subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. But just as criminal prosecutions of President Donald Trump lined his campaign coffers, the same is likely to occur for Democrats in response to War Secretary Pete Hegseth’s targeting of Kelly.
“The video made by the ‘Seditious Six’ was despicable, reckless, and false,” Hegseth said of Kelly. “Encouraging our warriors to ignore the orders of their commanders undermines every aspect of ‘good order and discipline.’ Their foolish screed sows doubt and confusion, which only puts our warriors in danger.”
PENTAGON ANNOUNCES ‘THOROUGH REVIEW’ INTO MARK KELLY OVER ‘ILLEGAL ORDERS’ VIDEO
The video, released last week, also featured Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Reps. Jason Crow (D-CO), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA). Trump has since accused the lawmakers of having committed “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH,” and amplified social media posts calling for them to be hanged.
“If this is meant to intimidate me and other members of Congress from doing our jobs and holding this administration accountable, it won’t work,” Kelly said in a statement of the Pentagon’s investigation. “I’ve given too much to this country to be silenced by bullies who care more about their own power than protecting the Constitution.”