Three journalists sue Pentagon after being fired from military news outlet
Summary
Three journalists who worked for the Pentagon-funded news outlet Stars and Stripes sued the Department of Defense, saying their firing broke the law and violated their right to free speech. They say they were punished after reporting on poor conditions aboard a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier and speaking out against military censorship.Key Facts
- The lawsuit was filed by Max Lederer, former publisher, Erik Slavin, editor-in-chief, and Lara Korte, Middle East correspondent at Stars and Stripes.
- Stars and Stripes is known as an independent news source for the U.S. military since the Civil War.
- Slavin and Korte were fired after speaking in a CBS News interview about possible military censorship.
- The Pentagon took action after Stars and Stripes reported on food and water shortages, mail delays, long workdays, and mental and physical health issues on the USS Abraham Lincoln.
- Lederer was told to fire Slavin and Korte but refused and instead decided to retire to avoid being part of what he called an illegal punishment.
- Lederer was later dismissed, and the Pentagon assigned a deputy publisher who is an active duty service member without informing Lederer first.
- The journalists claim their firing violates their First Amendment free speech rights.
- The Pentagon has not responded to the lawsuit publicly.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
