Pentagon wins key ruling in battle with Stars and Stripes journalists

A federal judge has refused to block the Pentagon from firing Stars and Stripes journalists who say they were punished for defending the military newspaper's editorial independence.

The Guardian reported, that the US District Judge Trevor McFadden ruled that the Pentagon can proceed with the dismissals while a lawsuit challenging them continues.

Stars and Stripes editor-in-chief Erik Slavin, Middle East reporter Lara Korte and publisher Max Lederer sued the Pentagon after officials allegedly ordered Lederer to fire Slavin and Korte.

The dispute followed an August article about deteriorating conditions and mental health crises aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.

McFadden, a Donald Trump appointee, said the journalists were unlikely to prove their First Amendment rights had been violated and that the publication's editorial independence “is not at stake here”.

“Plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate a chill here,” McFadden wrote.

He found Slavin and Korte could legally be dismissed over interviews they gave to CBS News in their official roles as public employees.

“They are being fired for giving pre-approved interviews on their paper’s behalf in which they largely toed the company line,” McFadden wrote.

The journalists are seeking reinstatement.