Three Stars and Stripes Journalists Sue Pentagon Over Firings

Three Stars and Stripes journalists sued Pentagon officials in federal court in Washington, seeking to stop their firings and alleging retaliation for defending the newspaper’s editorial independence. The plaintiffs are publisher Max D. Lederer Jr., editor-in-chief Erik A. Slavin and Middle East reporter Lara S. Korte. The complaint says officials ordered Lederer on August 12 to deliver separation notices to Slavin and Korte, he refused, and all three received insubordination notices on August 21. They seek declaratory relief and temporary, preliminary and permanent injunctions against the Defense Department and three officials.