A military judge at Guantanamo has scheduled hearings for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and co-defendants to plead guilty in exchange for life sentences. This follows Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's attempts to scuttle the plea agreements, which faced backlash from senators. The judge ruled that Austin lacked legal grounds to intervene. The plea deals, negotiated over two years, could potentially be blocked by the Pentagon as they seek to challenge McCall's ruling. Legal experts remain uncertain regarding the potential for trials and death penalty appeals given the complex legal landscape surrounding the case.