Three journalists sue Pentagon after being fired from military news outlet

“The article broke a major story about deteriorating conditions aboard the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln,” the complaint says. “It reported that the aircraft carrier’s 5,000 Sailors have endured food and water shortages, disrupted mail service, long workdays, and little time off for months on end, and that the long deployment and physical hardships were impacting Sailors’ physical and mental health.”

The day after that article was published by Stars and Stripes, the suit contends, Lederer was ordered to fire Slavin and Korte – five and a half weeks after the CBS News interview. Lederer ultimately declined to comply with the order.

“Lederer did not deliver the notices,” the suit explains. “Instead, he decided then and there to retire, and informed the Stripes’ staff via email. Mr. Lederer took this step because he did not want to be part of Defendants’ scheme to illegally punish Mr. Slavin and Ms. Korte for exercising their First Amendment rights.”