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Three fired Stars and Stripes staffers sue Pentagon, Defense Secretary Hegseth over retaliation
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Three staff members from the military news outlet Stars and Stripes have filed a federal lawsuit against the Pentagon and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, alleging their recent firings violated First Amendment free speech rights. The plaintiffs—publisher Max Lederer, editor-in-chief Erik Slavin, and Middle East reporter Lara Korte—claim they were retaliated against for publishing a report on deteriorating conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln and for speaking out against potential censorship by the U.S. military. Slavin was dismissed for insubordination after giving an interview to CBS News objecting to military interference. Lederer was fired shortly after announcing his retirement, and says the Pentagon installed an active-duty deputy publisher without his knowledge. The Pentagon declined to comment on the allegations. The lawsuit is supported by Democracy Defenders Fund, Lawyers for Good Government, Government Accountability Project, and a Yale Law School clinic.
Source report
Three staff members from the military news outlet Stars and Stripes have filed a federal lawsuit challenging their recent dismissals by the Pentagon, alleging that the Trump administration violated their First Amendment free speech rights.
Plaintiffs and Legal Action
The lawsuit, filed Thursday in Washington, D.C., names the following plaintiffs:
- Max Lederer – Publisher of Stars and Stripes
- Erik Slavin – Editor-in-chief
- Lara Korte – Middle East reporter
The Defense Department and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are among the named defendants.
Background of the Firings
The Pentagon, which partially funds the news outlet, fired the three staff members last week. A Pentagon spokesperson declined to comment on the suit's allegations.
According to the lawsuit:
- Erik Slavin says he was dismissed for insubordination after giving an interview to CBS News in which he objected to potential censorship by the U.S. military.
- Lara Korte participated in the same interview.
- The lawsuit claims they were punished in retaliation for publishing a report on deteriorating conditions aboard the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln.
- Max Lederer was dismissed shortly after announcing his impending retirement, effective at the end of September. He stated that the Pentagon had installed a new deputy publisher—an active duty service member—under him at the newspaper without his prior knowledge.
Lawsuit's Core Argument
The suit asserts that Stars and Stripes' editorial independence is essential to its mission:
"Stripes' historical editorial independence is critical to its core mission of gathering and providing unbiased, credible journalism to the U.S. military community, particularly servicemembers and their families stationed overseas."
Legal Representation
The plaintiffs are represented by attorneys from:
- Democracy Defenders Fund
- Lawyers for Good Government
- Government Accountability Project
- A Yale Law School clinic
Source
Fortune | FORTUNEWestern
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