Mark Kelly Sees Fundraising Boost After Court-Martial Threat

By Daniel Orton

Editor, Live News

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Mark Kelly was the top fundraiser on a Democratic donation-processing platform Tuesday morning as the Arizona senator faced threats of retribution from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over a recent video criticizing unlawful military orders.

The Pentagon announced Monday that it was reviewing whether Kelly, a retired Navy captain and former astronaut, may have violated military law after appearing in a video with several lawmakers urging U.S. service members to reject illegal commands—a highly unusual step that has drawn scrutiny from legal experts.

Kelly, who is not up for reelection until 2028, ranked ahead of California Representative Eric Swalwell and Tennessee state Representative Aftyn Behn—both of whom are competing in active races—according to ActBlue.

Fundraising amounts were not listed. A person familiar with the platform’s metrics told Newsweek that appearing in ActBlue's trending section generally reflects a surge of donor activity. Such spikes, the person said, often coincide with key moments in the press, on social media or other bursts of public attention that drive supporters to give money. Newsweek has emailed Kelly’s office for comment.

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Why It Matters

Kelly was considered as then-Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate in the 2024 presidential election and has been mentioned as a potential 2028 presidential candidate. Some political commentators and observers argue that attempts by the Trump administration to target him could backfire by boosting the popular lawmaker's profile, increase his fundraising and help lay the groundwork for a run at the White House.

What To Know

The Pentagon’s unprecedented move to investigate Kelly has ignited a political firestorm. The controversy stems from a mid-November video in which Kelly appeared with other Democrats telling service members they could “refuse illegal orders.”

In response, Hegseth branded Kelly part of the “Seditious Six,” saying that the message undermined military discipline. President Donald Trump escalated tensions by describing the lawmakers’ actions as "seditious behavior, punishable by death,” a remark that prompted alarm among several lawmakers and security officials before Trump later walked it back.

Under military law, retirees remain subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, allowing the Department of Defense (DOD) to threaten recalling Kelly for court-martial—a rare step against a sitting senator. Kelly dismissed the probe as intimidation, vowing, “it won’t work,” and framing his stance as a constitutional duty rather than partisan defiance.

His fellow Arizonan in the Senate, Democrat Ruben Gallego, was more blunt: "F*** you and your investigation," he said on X, quote-replying to the post from the DOD.

Several social-media users have reported receiving a fundraising email from Kelly off the latest developments.

Meanwhile, legal experts question the Pentagon’s authority, warning of a chilling precedent for civil-military relations. The fallout has deepened partisan divides and raised alarms about executive overreach in Trump’s second term.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters "that all orders, lawful orders, are presumed to be legal by our service members."

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What People Are Saying

Arizona Democratic Senator Mark Kelly, on X on Monday: "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. I’ve given too much to this country to be silenced by bullies who care more about their own power than protecting the Constitution."

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth: "So “Captain” Kelly, not only did your sedition video intentionally undercut good order & discipline…but you can’t even display your uniform correctly. Your medals are out of order & rows reversed. When/if you are recalled to active duty, it’ll start with a uniform inspection."

Nebraska Republican Representative Don Bacon, on X on Monday: "[The six Democrats] said don’t follow illegal orders. That is the law by the way. It was dumb and unnecessary video, but good luck prosecuting someone who is quoting the law. The Administration should have just pointed out how dumb it was. The threats looked dumber."

What Happens Next

The Pentagon could move forward with recalling Kelly to active duty and trigger a court-martial. Such a move would be without modern precedent for a sitting senator. Alternatively, the review might result in administrative sanctions or a formal reprimand, which Kelly could challenge in federal court, raising constitutional questions about separation of powers.

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