Federal judge won't stop Pentagon firing of Stars and Stripes journalists

WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Friday ruled that three Stars and Stripes employees had failed to show the Pentagon engaged in First Amendment retaliation when it terminated them following comments in a preapproved CBS News segment.

U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden denied a preliminary injunction for Editor-in-Chief Erik Slavin, reporter Lara Korte and publisher Max Lederer, who have been on administrative since Aug. 29. In a 24-page opinion, the Donald Trump appointee said the journalists apparently “spoke as part of their official duties and not as private citizens” and thus were unlikely to succeed on First Amendment claims.

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