Pete Hegseth recently came under fire from Senate Democrats, who questioned him about his role at the Star and Stripes military newspaper. The questions followed after the military newspaper’s longtime publisher announced his retirement. The publisher said his decision came after differences with Pete Hegseth’s department.
Democratic senators demand answers from Pete Hegseth over Stars and Stripes leadership shake-up
Democratic senators Jeanne Shaheen, Richard Blumenthal, and Elizabeth Warren recently sent a signed letter to Pete Hegseth demanding answers about his alleged involvement with the Stars and Stripes military newspaper.
The Dems’ move comes after the retirement announcement of Max Lederer, a longtime publisher with the newspaper. According to an AP News report, Lederer sent a memo to staff stating that he will step down from his role after almost three decades. The memo reportedly said Lederer is leaving because his “philosophy of leadership and my understanding of the value and mission of Stars and Stripes differ in fundamental ways from the direction the leadership of the Department of Defense has for the organization.”
In the letter, Dems asked the US Defense Secretary about handing Lederer’s deputy role to an active-duty Navy captain without consulting him. They mentioned, “The placement of an active-duty Public Affairs officer in the senior leadership of an organization whose credibility depends on its independence from the military chain of command raises serious questions.”
They asserted that Lederer’s “abrupt” exit further fuels concern about the newspaper’s independence. The trio said the update also seems troubling after “the April firing of independent Ombudsman Jacqueline Smith after she publicly defended the newspaper’s editorial independence and communicated concerns to Congress.”
The Dems have given Hegseth until August 28 to explain Lederer’s departure. They also demanded that he disclose whether the active-duty captain has assumed the role of permanent publisher or will serve as acting publisher for now.
