The Pentagon has been busy investigating Defense Department employees for comments allegedly made online following the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, The Washington Post is reporting.
Close to 300 Defense Department employees are under investigation. This includes service members, civilian workers and contractors.
So far, some investigations have led to disciplinary action as the department attempts to quell criticism if Kirk, who was a polarizing figure and was an ardent supporter of President Donald Trump.
Former defense officials and congressional Democrats have said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s order signals concern over his leadership said those under him are “expected to remain loyal to the Constitution, not any one party or president,” the outlet reported.
Just last week, Hegseth told generals and admirals they should quit if they don’t support the Trump administration’s new policies.
The same held true under President Joe Biden during the coronavirus vaccine mandate when thousands were dismissed.
Hegseth and his staff have said speech celebrating or mocking Kirk’s death is an “illicit partisan activity subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination, The Post reported.
“It’s a violation of the oath, it’s conduct unbecoming, it’s a betrayal of the Americans they’ve sworn to protect & dangerously incompatible with military service,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell wrote on social media in September. He reiterated that statement to The Post stating, “Those in our ranks who rejoice at an act of domestic terrorism are unfit to serve the American people.”
Kirk’s death has sparked a debate regarding political violence.
As Hegseth’s staff investigate remarks about Kirk, the secretary went against his own directive when he was a host on Fox News last year.
Hegseth reportedly grinned and joked along with a guest on Fox News when talking about the hammer attack on Paul Pelosi, husband of former House speaker Nancy Pelosi.
He later said, “We wish him well.”
