Stars and Stripes journalists accuse Pentagon of retaliatory terminations

Stars and Stripes Editor-in-Chief Erik Slavin, reporter Lara Korte, and publisher Max Lederer sued the Defense Department to block terminations set for Aug. 29, calling them retaliation for speaking to CBS Sunday Morning and for the outlet's coverage of poor conditions aboard the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln.

The lawsuit lays out a timeline: a March memo from Deputy Secretary Feinberg imposed new restrictions on the newsroom, including a wire-service ban and Pentagon control over the ombudsperson, and after an Aug. 11 story on sailor morale, the Pentagon ordered Lederer to fire Slavin and Korte for insubordination. Lederer asked for clarification instead and was told simply to deliver the notices; he retired rather than comply, and all three received separation notices on Aug. 21.

The journalists argue they have no path through federal labor boards because of their employment classification, leaving the courts as their only option, and note this fight is unfolding alongside a separate Pentagon effort to require reporters be escorted inside the building.

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