Pentagon: Kirk mixed politics with military duty

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The Pentagon says Senate candidate Mark Kirk improperly mixed political activities with his military service.

The Defense Department says it twice cautioned the Republican about getting involved in politics while on active duty with the Navy Reserve.

The department said Monday that Kirk gave interviews about former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich being arrested in late 2008, and that in July 2009, Kirk or a staff member wrote on the candidate's Twitter account that he was on duty at the Pentagon's National Military Command Center.

When this issue arose last week, the Kirk campaign denied he had ever mixed politics with his Navy duties.

Kirk is running against Democrat Alexi Giannoulias for the Senate seat once held by President Barack Obama.