Federal Judge Rules Pentagon Can Fire Stars and Stripes Journalists, Citing Lack of First Amendment Violation
A federal judge has ruled that the Pentagon can proceed with the firing of three Stars and Stripes journalists: publisher Max Lederer, editor-in-chief Erik Slavin, and Middle East reporter Lara Korte. U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden denied their requests for temporary restraining orders, stating that the government likely did not violate the journalists' First Amendment rights. The journalists had sued the Pentagon on August 28, alleging they were illegally pushed out over personal statements protected under the First Amendment. The lawsuit claims the Pentagon was displeased with a July 5 "CBS Sunday Morning" segment where Slavin and Korte discussed changes to Stars and Stripes' independence. According to the lawsuit, after the military newspaper reported on hardships aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, the Pentagon directed Lederer to remove Slavin and Korte, which he did not do, leading to his announced retirement. Judge McFadden, appointed by President Trump in 2017, wrote that Slavin and Korte's remark... 
