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The Defense Department is investigating Senator Mark Kelly after he and other Democratic lawmakers released a video urging the military to refuse illegal orders
Ariana Baio,Rachel DobkinTuesday 25 November 2025 02:30 GMTComments
CloseJames Comey reacts to dismissal of Trump admin's case against him
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Donald Trump’s administration has vowed to fight back after a federal judge threw out criminal cases that the president demanded against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie ruled Monday that the interim U.S. Attorney who signed off on the cases, Lindsey Halligan, was unlawfully appointed to her position – making the indictments themselves invalid.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that Halligan was “legally appointed” and said, “I know the Department of Justice will be appealing this in very short order.”
Comey and James are among several Trump enemies being targeted by investigations.
Also on Monday, the Department of Defense announced it would investigate “serious allegations of misconduct against” Senator Mark Kelly, a former naval officer, after he participated in a video, encouraging active military service members to ignore orders that violate the Constitution.
Kelly and several other Democratic lawmakers released a video last week urging the military to “refuse illegal orders.” Kelly is the only one to face a Pentagon probe because he falls under the Defense Department’s jurisdiction.
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Key Points
- Judge dismisses indictment against James Comey and Letitia James
- Department of Defense investigating Democratic Senator Mark Kelly
- White House vows to appeal judge’s dismissal of indictment against Comey
- Trump says he’ll visit Beijing in April after ‘very good’ call with China’s Xi
- In photos: Melania receives White House Christmas tree
New Jersey Governor-elect defends Mark Kelly
Democratic New Jersey Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill, who is a former Navy helicopter pilot, has defended Senator Mark Kelly, calling the Pentagon’s investigation into him an “abuse of power” by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The Defense Department announced Monday that it received “serious allegations of misconduct against” Kelly, an Arizona Democrat and retired Navy captain, and that it was conducting a “thorough review” on the matter.
Kelly was recently in a video alongside several other Democratic lawmakers urging the military to disobey illegal orders.
Rachel Dobkin25 November 2025 02:30Watch: Karoline Leavitt says White House is 'supportive' of Mark Kelly probe
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Monday: “The White House is supportive of the Department of War's investigation into Senator Mark Kelly.”
Earlier Monday, the Defense Department announced that it received “serious allegations of misconduct against” Kelly, an Arizona Democrat and retired Navy captain, and that it was conducting a “thorough review” on the matter.
Kelly was recently in a video alongside several other Democratic lawmakers urging the military to disobey illegal orders.
Leavitt accused Kelly of trying to “intimidate the 1.3 million active duty service members.”
Rachel Dobkin25 November 2025 02:10Lara Trump denies Trump called reporter ‘piggy’ during infamous Air Force One gaggle
Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, has denied that the president called a reporter “piggy” during an infamous Air Force One press gaggle.
Earlier this month, Trump told Bloomberg White House correspondent Catherine Lucey, “quiet, piggy,” after she asked about the government files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Comedian Bill Maher, who identifies as a liberal, called out Trump’s comments during a sit-down with Lara on his podcast Club Random.
He was telling Lara about how he believes “woke” people are “snobs” for refusing to eat with conservatives at Thanksgiving dinner.
“What do we think we do to get the people who are the no-contact people back?” Lara asked.
Maher responded: “Don’t do things like call a woman, ‘piggy.’”
Lara then questioned, “Do we know that happened?”
“I saw it on tape,” Maher responded.
Read on...
Lara Trump denies Trump called reporter ‘piggy’ during infamous Air Force One gaggle
During a November 14 press gaggle, the president told Bloomberg White House correspondent Catherine Lucey, ‘quiet, piggy,’ after she asked about the Epstein filesRachel Dobkin25 November 2025 01:50Adam Schiff calls dismissal of Letitia James and James Comey cases 'triumph of the rule of law'
Senator Adam Schiff, a California Democrat, has called a federal judge’s decision to dismiss high-profile cases against New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey a “triumph of the rule of law.”
“Every prosecutor at the DOJ should continue to adhere to the rule of law, and resist political pressure to do otherwise,” Schiff wrote on X Monday.
Rachel Dobkin25 November 2025 01:30Watch: Sean Duffy says people should dress nicer for the airport as he launches 'civility' campaign
Sean Duffy says people should dress nicer for the airport as he launches 'civility' campaignAriana Baio25 November 2025 01:10Gabby Giffords responds to Mark Kelly Pentagon probe
Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords has responded to a Pentagon probe into her husband, Senator Mark Kelly.
“Intimidation tactics are not going to keep @SenMarkKelly from his duty to protect our constitution,” Giffords wrote on X Monday.
The Defense Department announced earlier Monday that it received “serious allegations of misconduct against” Kelly, an Arizona Democrat and retired Navy captain, and that it was conducting a “thorough review” on the matter.
Kelly was recently in a video alongside several other Democratic lawmakers urging the military to disobey illegal orders.
Rachel Dobkin25 November 2025 00:50ANALYSIS: Team Trump fumbles one legal battle after another — and then starts fresh one against space hero Mark Kelly
President Donald Trump’s Justice Department suffered two unqualified losses on Monday when a federal judge tossed out cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie did so on the grounds that Trump had unlawfully appointed Lindsey Halligan to be interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
It is just the latest embarrassment for the Justice Department under the Trump administration. Remember, Trump tapped Halligan to serve as interim U.S. attorney after her predecessor reportedly did not have enough evidence to criminally prosecute James.
James and Comey have long been on Trump’s enemies list. While the indictment was ostensibly for allegedly lying when he testified before Congress in 2020, Trump despises Comey for his leadership during the probe into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. That played a role in Trump sacking Comey as FBI director in 2017.
Read on...
Team Trump fumbles one legal battle after another — and starts one against Mark Kelly
President Donald Trump’s enemies-list prosecutions of James Comey and Letitia James were tossed by a federal judge on Monday, writes Eric Garcia. The same day, came word that the Pentagon is going after a NASA hero who dared challenge the commander-in-chief.Eric Garcia25 November 2025 00:30Democratic senator who served in the Marines says Pete Hegseth will never be 'half the man that Senator Kelly is'
Senator Ruben Gallego, an Arizona Democrat who served in the Marines, told CNN Monday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will “never ever ever be even half the man that Senator Kelly is.”
His comments come after the Defense Department announced that it received “serious allegations of misconduct against” Senator Mark Kelly, an Arizona Democrat and retired Navy captain, and that it was conducting a “thorough review” on the matter.
Kelly was recently in a video alongside several other Democratic lawmakers urging the military to disobey illegal orders.
Rachel Dobkin25 November 2025 00:10Karoline Leavitt jokes that job in Trump’s administration has left her with PTSD: ‘It’s very difficult’
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said she’s developed post traumatic stress disorder while working under President Donald Trump.
But the source of her distress isn’t reporters, despite their unending barrage of queries about the day’s headlines. Instead, it’s her grueling schedule, which has caused her to spend long hours away from her family, she told The Daily Mail.
“Honestly, I have PTSD about making plans, so I just don't,” the 28-year-old griped to the outlet about arranging time off with her husband, 60-year-old real estate developer Nicholas Riccio. “It's very difficult to make plans in this job.”
“My husband and I had three different mini weekend getaway vacations this summer. All three got canceled due to foreign policy events,” she said, adding, “We just roll with it. If there's a night where I happen to become free, then we take full advantage of that as a family.”
Read on...
Karoline Leavitt jokes that job in Trump’s White House has left her with PTSD
The 28-year-old White House press secretary said her demanding schedule has forced her to cancel three family vacationsBrendan Rascius24 November 2025 23:50Watch: Pam Bondi says DOJ will take 'all available legal action' against Letitia James and James Comey after their cases were thrown out
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