Kelly Joins Democratic Colleagues in Pressing Trump on Legal Basis for Claim that Hostilities in Iran Have Terminated

Today, Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) joined Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and 34 other Senate Democrats in refuting the Trump administration's claim that the hostilities in Iran have "terminated" and request President Donald Trump release the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) opinion supporting this claim.

The Senators emphasized that the already unconstitutional war in Iran has violated its statutory deadline set by the War Powers Resolution and argue that the ongoing naval operations, bombings, blockades, and strike campaigns that have been ongoing since February 28 continue to constitute hostilities.

"Furthermore, the United States and Iran, and their associated partners and proxies, have continued to use lethal force in contravention of the ceasefire, which also constitute hostilities. Finally, U.S. forces remain postured for, and you have regularly threatened, the swift return of major combat operations," the senators wrote.

The Senators pointed out that the continued deployment of troops, ongoing strikes, and an active naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz rebut the claim that hostilities terminated after the April 7 ceasefire.

"Your administration has not explained to the Congress or the American people why you believe the Constitution permits launching a war of this magnitude-including the loss of U.S. service members' lives, scores of civilians killed in Iran and the broader region, and staggering economic and geopolitical costs-without authorization from Congress as Article I requires. […] It is imperative that you publish the OLC legal theory underlying your interpretation to the contrary in a timely manner," the senators concluded.

In addition to Kelly, Schiff, Kaine, and Schumer, the letter was co-signed by U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt-Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Edward Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

The full text of the letter can be found here.