Annie Comes Home: My day in court

Thursday, February 5, 2026

My day in court

Team, it's Mark.

Most of you probably know that I am suing the Secretary of Defense. Earlier this week, I was in court to make my case against Pete Hegseth.

After 25 years in uniform and another 5 in the United States Senate, I never imagined I'd have to do something like that. Hegseth has left me no choice.

When he censured me and threatened my rank and retirement, he came after what I earned over 25 years — and chilled the free speech rights of every retired member of the military alongside me.

If Hegseth isn't stopped, our longest-serving military veterans will have to live with the constant threat that they could be deprived of their rank and pension years — even decades — after they leave the military if they say something he doesn't like.

I'm not going to sit by and let that happen. So, I sued Hegseth. And now, we wait and see what the court decides.

I've been truly humbled by the support people have sent my way over the past couple of months. It means the world to me that so many of you care about what Trump and Hegseth are trying to do.

That's how we've made it this far, and it's how we'll get to the other side of this chapter in our nation's history. Together.

If you've been waiting for the right time to make a stand and join the fight, this is it.

Please, if you can, will you split a donation between Sherrod Brown and me?

If you've saved payment information with ActBlue Express, your split donation to Sherrod Brown and Mark Kelly will go through immediately:

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