Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., filed a lawsuit against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Pentagon, charging their effort to censure him and demote his military retirement rank is "unlawful and unconstitutional."

Hegseth said the Pentagon was taking the step because of Kelly's alleged "seditious statements" — a reference to the senator partaking in a video that urged members of the military not to comply with illegal orders.

The suit charges Hegseth's actions violate Kelly's First Amendment rights and the speech and debate clause of the Constitution, which grants immunity to lawmakers for official acts.