Story perspectives

Judge Orders Pentagon Reinstatement Fight in Journalists’ Lawsuit

8/30/2026

Summary

Story summary

Three Stars and Stripes journalists sued the U.S. Department of Defense over their dismissals.
Publisher Max Lederer, editor-in-chief Erik Slavin and reporter Lara Korte filed the suit on Aug. 27 in Washington, D.C.
The Pentagon charged them with “insubordination” after a July 5 CBS Sunday Morning interview defending editorial independence.
Judge Trevor McFadden paused terminations until Sept. 4, directing the suit to seek reinstatement, back pay and a First Amendment violation finding.

History

Historical Context

In June 1971 the Supreme Court issued a 6-3 ruling in New York Times Co. v. United States, rejecting the Nixon administration’s attempt to block publication of the Pentagon Papers and affirming First-Amendment press protection. That precedent underlies the present lawsuit by Three Stars and Stripes reporters Max Lederer, Erik Slavin and Lara Korte, who seek reinstatement after Pentagon terminations they claim violate the same constitutional safeguard.

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Story summary

Three Stars and Stripes journalists sued the U.S. Department of Defense over their dismissals.
Publisher Max Lederer, editor-in-chief Erik Slavin and reporter Lara Korte filed the suit on Aug. 27 in Washington, D.C.
The Pentagon charged them with “insubordination” after a July 5 CBS Sunday Morning interview defending editorial independence.
Judge Trevor McFadden paused terminations until Sept. 4, directing the suit to seek reinstatement, back pay and a First Amendment violation finding.

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