Dawn
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16:06 May 08, 2026
WASHINGTON: A courtroom clash with US War Secretary Pete Hegseth is rapidly transforming Democratic Senator Mark Kelly into one of the most closely watched potential challengers to President Donald Trump ahead of the 2028 US presidential election. A federal appeals court on Thursday appeared sceptical of Pentagon efforts to punish the retired astronaut and Navy officer over remarks urging US troops to refuse illegal orders, with judges sharply questioning whether the government’s case could stand constitutional scrutiny. The case has taken on broader political significance in Washington, where Democrats are increasingly searching for figures capable of challenging Trump’s hardline political and security agenda. Kelly, 62, is a former US Navy combat pilot who flew missions during the 1991 Gulf War before joining Nasa as an astronaut. He later commanded multiple space shuttle missions, including the final flight of Space Shuttle Endeavour in 2011. He studied at the US Merchant Marine Academy and earned a master...