Judge refuses to block Pentagon from firing Stars and Stripes staffers over CBS interview
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge refused Friday to block the Pentagon from firing three Stars and Stripes staff members who claim they were illegally disciplined for speaking out about the military news outlet’s need to maintain its editorial independence. U.S. District Judge…
A federal judge has ruled against the Pentagon's attempt to fire three Stars and Stripes staff members for their CBS News interview. U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden stated that the journalists are unlikely to succeed in proving that the Pentagon violated their First Amendment rights. McFadden argued that Stars and Stripes' editorial independence is not at risk in this case.
The dispute arose after Slavin, Korte and Middle East reporter Lara Korte sued the Pentagon to challenge their firings, which allegedly came in retaliation for a report on conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln. McFadden concluded that Slavin and Korte gave the interviews as part of their official duties, not as private citizens.
"They are being fired for giving pre-approved interviews on their paper’s behalf in which they largely toed the company line. Whatever else such a scheme may violate, it does not clearly offend the First Amendment," McFadden wrote.
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