Legal experts are questioning whether the Pentagon can punish Senator Mark Kelly , an Arizona Democrat and a retired Navy fighter pilot, after he appeared in a video saying U.S. troops should refuse “illegal orders.” President Donald Trump called his and other Democrats' remarks on social media “seditious behavior, punishable by death,” but experts noted that Kelly is a civilian lawmaker protected by the Constitution, making any military action against him highly unlikely.

Why it Matters

The U.S. relies on a military that stays neutral and under civilian control. When a senator appears to tell troops to ignore orders, it raises questions about where those boundaries lie. It also sparks concern that political leaders could try to use the military for party advantage instead of the n

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