The US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth , escalated attacks by Trump administration chiefs on Arizona senator Mark Kelly on Tuesday by ordering the secretary of the US navy to investigate “potentially unlawful comments” made by Kelly in a social media video with other lawmakers.

Hegseth’s order came in the form of a memorandum to John Phelan asking the Navy secretary to review Kelly and a group of fellow Democrats’ comments in the video last week that sought to remind serving soldiers and intelligence officers that they have the right to refuse unlawful orders.

Hegseth said in the memo that he wanted a brief from Phelan that he could review by 10 December.

The Pentagon had issued a statement on Monday that it was investigating Kelly for possible breaches of military law.

Kelly

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