Judge declines to block Pentagon firing of three Stars and Stripes journalists

A federal judge declined to temporarily block the Pentagon from firing Stars and Stripes publisher Max Lederer, editor-in-chief Erik Slavin and Middle East reporter Lara Korte, ruling they were unlikely to prove that the dismissals violated the First Amendment. The journalists say they were retaliated against after discussing the military newspaper’s editorial independence in a CBS Sunday Morning report. The Pentagon cited insubordination and regulatory violations, while the plaintiffs argue their comments were protected and made as part of their professional duties. The ruling is an interim setback for the journalists and intensifies a broader dispute over how much editorial independence a government-funded military newspaper can maintain. Their attorneys said they are considering further legal options as the case proceeds.