Three journalists fired from the U.S. military news outlet Stars and Stripes have sued the Pentagon, alleging First Amendment violations and retaliation for defending editorial independence and reporting on deteriorating conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.
The lawsuit highlights concerns about government interference in journalistic independence and the potential for retaliation against reporters covering sensitive military operations, impacting the free flow of information to service members.
Three journalists from the U.S. military news outlet Stars and Stripes have filed a federal lawsuit against the Pentagon, alleging their recent firings violated their First Amendment rights and constituted illegal retaliation. Publisher Max Lederer, editor-in-chief Erik Slavin, and Middle East correspondent Lara Korte are named as plaintiffs.
The lawsuit claims the Defense Department and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are attempting to punish the journalists for defending the press's freedom to cover military operations and for publishing a report on deteriorating conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. Slavin and Korte stated they were dismissed for alleged "insubordination" after objecting to potential military censorship in an interview with CBS News.
According to the complaint, Lederer was ordered by the Pentagon to fire Slavin and Korte five and a half weeks after the CBS interview, and the day after the Stars and Stripes published its report on the USS Abraham Lincoln. Lederer refused the order, stating he did not want to be part of a scheme to punish the journalists for exercising their First Amendment rights, and announced his retirement. He was subsequently dismissed shortly after his retirement announcement, noting the Pentagon had installed a new deputy publisher under him without his knowledge.
The journalists argue that Stars and Stripes' historical editorial independence is critical to its mission of providing unbiased journalism to the U.S. military community. Slavin and Korte are seeking reinstatement to their positions.
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