GOP Rep. Criticizes Defense Department Over Threat Of Court Martial Against Democratic Sens.: 'Amateur Hour'

Republican Rep. Don Bacon criticized the Department of Defense over its announced investigation into Democratic Sen. over a video in which he, along with other lawmakers, urged members of the military and the intelligence community to not comply with illegal orders from the government.

"Amateur hour once again" at the Department of Defense, Bacon said in a social media publication. "I thought the video by six Dems was unnecessary and foolish. But the threats of sedition charges and courts martial in response are also crazy. Let's show some common sense and restraint," he added.

The main lawmaker targeted by the Department of Defense is Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, who, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, could face "court-martial proceedings or administrative measures."

Hegseth said that "five of the six individuals in that video do not fall under @DeptofWar jurisdiction (one is CIA and four are former military but not 'retired', so they are no longer subject to UCMJ). "However, Mark Kelly (retired Navy Commander) is still subject to UCMJ—and he knows that," he noted,

Kelly, who retired as a captain, said he heard about the investigation through Hegseth's post. "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," the senator claimed. "I've given too much to this country to be silenced by bullies who care more about their own power than protecting the Constitution."

Bacon also made headlines this week for saying he considered resigning after learning the content of the Trump administration's peace plan for the Russia-Ukraine war.

Bacon has called the proposal as the "Witkoff Ukrainian surrender plan," in reference to special envoy Steve Witkoff. He said he will end his term because he has a "commitment to our constituents to fulfill" his term, but will still retire at the end of it, in 2027, as announced.

Ukraine has amended the plan and removed some of Russia's demand, officials told The Guardian on Tuesday. European leaders said that chances of a deal being reached quickly are slim, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could travel to the White House this week to discuss the plan further.

The modified plan includes 19 points, with Ukrainian and European officials saying the frontlines must be the starting point for any conversation. "Many correct elements have been incorporated into this framework," Zelensky said.

Russia has not shown complete agreement with the plan either. Putin's top foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, said the "draft" will "require further reworking." He also slammed the counterproposal, saying that "at first glance," the "European plan" is "completely unconstructive and does not work for us."