A federal judge has decided not to prevent the Pentagon from terminating three Stars and Stripes staff members who alleged they were punished for advocating for the outlet’s editorial independence. U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden ruled the journalists are unlikely to prove a violation of their First Amendment rights, asserting that Stars and Stripes’ editorial independence is “not at stake here.”
The staff members — publisher Max Lederer, editor-in-chief Erik Slavin, and reporter Lara Korte — have filed a lawsuit challenging their firings. Slavin was reportedly dismissed after voicing concerns about potential military censorship in a CBS News interview, which Korte also participated in. Their lawsuit claims retaliation for reporting on deteriorating conditions aboard the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln.
Judge McFadden stated that Slavin and Korte provided the interviews as part of their official duties and that their firings do not clearly violate First Amendment rights. Lederer was dismissed after announcing his retirement, shortly after the Pentagon appointed a new deputy publisher without his consent. The lawsuit names the Defense Department and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as defendants.
The plaintiffs are represented by multiple advocacy organizations, including the Democracy Defenders Fund.
