Pentagon Escalates Probe of Sen. Mark Kelly Over ‘Illegal Orders’ Video

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), a former astronaut and captain in the U.S. Navy, is now facing a “command investigation” into his conduct by the Department of War.

A “command investigation” is a procedure by which a commanding officer conducts an official inquiry into allegations of serious misconduct by a military person, which involves sworn witness testimonies, multiple personnel working on the matter, and the opportunity for the target to submit evidence in response. At the end, a report is prepared by the investigating officer and is used as a basis for action, such as a court-martial.