Pentagon Purged 'Stars and Stripes' for USS Lincoln Reports: Lawsuit
Pentagon fired Stars and Stripes staff for "insubordination" after a CBS apperance, the lawsuit alleges.
Three journalists from the government-funded Stars and Stripes military newspaper are suing the Pentagon, alleging they were dismissed for publishing reports on conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier. Max Lederer, the newspaper's publisher and editor-in-chief, and Middle East correspondent Lara Korte claim they were fired for speaking out as private citizens in support of press freedom.
Their lawsuit alleges the Pentagon retaliated against them, particularly after Korte and Slavin appeared on a CBS segment discussing their concerns about potential editorial oversight. The complaint states the Pentagon fired Slavin and Korte for insubordination following a report on August 11 that detailed shortages of food, water, mail access, long workdays, and limited time off for the ship's crew of around 5,000 sailors, leading to mental health issues among personnel.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Pentagon official Andrew Brey, and Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell are named in the lawsuit in their official capacities.
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