Judge refuses to block Pentagon from firing Stars and Stripes staffers over CBS interview

A federal judge has ruled against the Pentagon's attempt to fire three Stars and Stripes staff members for speaking out about the military news outlet's need to maintain its editorial independence. U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden stated that the journalists are unlikely to successfully prove that the Pentagon violated their First Amendment rights, as Stars and Stripes' editorial independence is not at stake.

The three staff members, including publisher Max Lederer, editor-in-chief Erik Slavin, and Middle East reporter Lara Korte, sued last week to challenge their firings, alleging that they were punished in retaliation for publishing a report on deteriorating conditions aboard the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln.

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