Federal judge refuses injunction to allow Pentagon to fire top executives of Stars and Stripes newspaper

(Central News Agency, Washington, 4th, comprehensive foreign news report) A federal judge refused to issue an injunction today, upholding the Pentagon's decision to fire the publisher, editor-in-chief and reporters of "Stars and Stripes". The three people claimed that they were illegally punished for publicly speaking out and emphasizing that newspapers must maintain editorial independence.

The Associated Press reported that federal district judge Trevor McFadden, who made the ruling, was appointed by U.S. Republican President Donald Trump.

He noted that the journalists were unlikely to prove that the Pentagon violated their right to free speech guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and said the editorial independence of Stars and Stripes "is not at risk in this case."

"Plaintiffs contend that their firing would have a chilling effect on their own and other Stars and Stripes colleagues' protected speech. However, Plaintiffs have failed to prove that such a chilling effect exists," McFadyen wrote in the ruling.

"Stars and Stripes" publisher Max Lederer, editor-in-chief Erik Slavin and Middle East correspondent Lara Korte filed a lawsuit in the federal district court in Washington, D.C. on August 27, challenging the Pentagon's decision to fire them.

Stars and Stripes has been reporting on U.S. military news since the Civil War in the 1860s. Although part of its funding comes from the War Department, it has long maintained editorial independence.

Slavin said he was fired by the Pentagon for insubordination after speaking out against potential censorship of news by the US military in an exclusive interview with CBS. Curt also participated in the interview.

They stated in the complaint that they were punished in retaliation for publishing a report on the poor conditions on board the USS Abraham Lincoln.

However, McFayden determined that Slavin and Cotter were performing official duties as civil servants when they were interviewed, rather than speaking as ordinary citizens.