Editor of military news outlet that first revealed US aircraft carrier crisis says he was fired over interview

In an update to my earlier post, the Pentagon is confirmed to have fired the editor-in-chief of Stars and Stripes, Erik Slavin, as well as its publisher, Max Lederer, and a reporter, Slavin has told the Associated Press.

Slavin said he was dismissed for insubordination after an interview he gave that objected to any potential censorship by the US military.

He told the AP he was fired “for stating in a CBS interview that hypothetical censorship of news for service members would constitute a red line”. He added that he stands by the principle “that Stars and Stripes must remain editorially independent”.

Earlier this week, Lederer announced his retirement effective at the end of September. He too received a separation notice, according to Slavin, as did the Middle East reporter Lara Korte.