Hegseth says Pentagon will review Mark Kelly’s US weapons stockpile remarks

Key Points:

• Senator Mark Kelly disclosed information on depleted US missile stockpiles during the Iran conflict, stating that replenishment could take years and potentially expose the US to future threats, information he said was shared publicly by the defense secretary under oath.
• Pete Hegseth accused Kelly of revealing classified details from a Pentagon briefing and referred him to Pentagon lawyers to determine if he violated his oath, though Kelly countered that the information was from an open Senate briefing where Hegseth himself spoke.
• The dispute between Kelly and Hegseth dates back to last fall when Kelly and other Democratic lawmakers reminded military personnel of their obligation to refuse unlawful orders, prompting Hegseth to censure Kelly and seek to strip his retired military rank, actions temporarily blocked by a federal court citing First Amendment concerns.
• A Pentagon investigation into Kelly is ongoing, but details about its scope or consequences have not been disclosed, while a separate DOJ criminal investigation into the related video involving Kelly and others resulted in no charges.
• The conflict has been politically charged, with former President Donald Trump labeling the lawmakers involved as traitors and suggesting extreme punishments, leading to heightened tensions including threats against some participants.