Three journalists fired from the US military newspaper Stars and Stripes have sued the US Department of Defense, challenging their dismissals in federal court.

The journalists argue that their firings were unlawful and violated their First Amendment right to free speech. The lawsuit follows their reporting on a reported mental health crisis aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, an aircraft carrier that had spent more than 250 days at sea supporting US military operations.

The Pentagon reportedly accused the journalists of insubordination and other violations before dismissing them. The case has now raised broader questions about press freedom, editorial independence and the relationship between the US military and its independent news outlet.

 3 Fired Journalists Sue U.S. Department of Defence After USS Lincoln 'Report'

The US Justice Department has withdrawn subpoenas issued to The New York Times over reports concerning the security features of Air Force One. The newspaper had challenged the government’s requests for phone records and grand jury testimony, arguing that the move could intimidate journalists and violate First Amendment protections for press freedom. During a court hearing, federal prosecutors agreed to withdraw the subpoenas. The dispute began after a New York Times report raised questions about security features on a donated aircraft linked to Air Force One, including concerns over missile defense systems. President Donald Trump dismissed the concerns, saying the aircraft was being sent to a British air base for viewing by US troops and would undergo modifications.

US Justice Department withdraws subpoenas against New York Times over Air Force one Security report

<p>Fox News on Wednesday (August 23) argued in the court that its hosts and guests were just raising questions and “presented a puzzle to unravel” when they continuously and falsely suggested that January 6 rioter Ray Epps was a government agent who had allegedly orchestrated the Capitol attack.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The defence argument was made in a defamation suit that was filed by Epps against the right-wing network. In his suit, he claimed that Fox figures, including its former host Tucker Carlson, ruined his reputation by repeatedly suggesting that a &nbsp;false-flag plot for hurting Donald Trump was led by him. He added that the claims made by the host were baseless.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Carlson, in around 20 episodes of his talk show, kept on talking about the conspiracy theory which claimed Epps was an undercover operative who “helped stage-manage the insurrection”.</p>

<p>Reportedly, Carlson argued that Epps was recorded on camera appealing to people to enter the Capitol, but did not ever enter the building himself.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-tucker-carlson-interview-former-prez-justifies-skipping-republican-debate-628548">Trump-Tucker Carlson interview: Former prez justifies skipping Republican debate</a></p>

<p>A 10-minute video was shared on YouTube in which Carlson claimed that it was “highly strange” that Epps was not arrested and suggested that the coverage of Times on Epps was attempting to “cover something up”.</p>

<p>“Tucker Carlson (and/or his guests) described the known (and undisputed) facts” about Epps, Fox claimed in the filing. “Then they asked questions and speculated about answers," it stated.</p>

<h2><strong>'Fox News genuinely asked questions and looked for answers'</strong></h2>

<p>Meanwhile, the&nbsp;network in its argument further said, “The format of the segments involved setting out facts and raising queries on those facts, which indicated that issues surrounding (Epps) presented a puzzle to unravel, not a matter on which there were definitive answers.”</p>

<p>The arguments depend on the notion that the hosts of Fox News genuinely “asked questions” and “looked for answers” about the role of Epps in the January 6 insurrection. However, a &nbsp;previous defamation lawsuit which was filed by Dominion Voting Systems had showed that many Fox hosts operated in bad faith which raised claims on-air that they didn’t actually believe.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Absent Donald trump still expected to remain in the spotlight</strong></p>

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<p>A Delaware federal judge is being asked by Fox News to throw out the lawsuit.</p>

<p>The defamation case is one of those many pending similar suits that were filed after the 2020 election and the false claims of Trump that the results were rigged. Earlier this year, Fox News had to pay $787 million to settle with Dominion and is still facing a $2.7 billion lawsuit filed by Smartmatic, a voting technology company.</p>

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Fox News on Wednesday (August 23) argued in the court that its hosts and guests were just raising questions and “presented a puzzle to unravel” when they continuously and falsely suggested that January 6 rioter Ray Epps was a government agent who had allegedly orchestrated the Capitol attack.

Fox News on Wednesday (August 23) argued in the court that its hosts and guests were just raising questions and “presented a puzzle to unravel” when they continuously and falsely suggested that January 6 rioter Ray Epps was a government agent who had allegedly orchestrated the Capitol attack. The defence argument was made in a defamation suit that was filed by Epps against the right-wing network. In his suit, he claimed that Fox figures, including its former host Tucker Carlson, ruined his reputation by repeatedly suggesting that a false-flag plot for hurting Donald Trump was led by him. He added that the claims made by the host were baseless. Carlson, in around 20 episodes of his talk show, kept on talking about the conspiracy theory which claimed Epps was an undercover operative who “helped stage-manage the insurrection”. Reportedly, Carlson argued that Epps was recorded on camera appealing to people to enter the Capitol, but did not ever enter the building himself. ALSO READ | Trump-Tucker Carlson interview: Former prez justifies skipping Republican debate A 10-minute video was shared on YouTube in which Carlson claimed that it was “highly strange” that Epps was not arrested and suggested that the coverage of Times on Epps was attempting to “cover something up”. “Tucker Carlson (and/or his guests) described the known (and undisputed) facts” about Epps, Fox claimed in the filing. “Then they asked questions and speculated about answers," it stated. 'Fox News genuinely asked questions and looked for answers' Meanwhile, the network in its argument further said, “The format of the segments involved setting out facts and raising queries on those facts, which indicated that issues surrounding (Epps) presented a puzzle to unravel, not a matter on which there were definitive answers.” The arguments depend on the notion that the hosts of Fox News genuinely “asked questions” and “looked for answers” about the role of Epps in the January 6 insurrection. However, a previous defamation lawsuit which was filed by Dominion Voting Systems had showed that many Fox hosts operated in bad faith which raised claims on-air that they didn’t actually believe. WATCH | Absent Donald trump still expected to remain in the spotlight A Delaware federal judge is being asked by Fox News to throw out the lawsuit. The defamation case is one of those many pending similar suits that were filed after the 2020 election and the false claims of Trump that the results were rigged. Earlier this year, Fox News had to pay $787 million to settle with Dominion and is still facing a $2.7 billion lawsuit filed by Smartmatic, a voting technology company. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Fox News claims First Amendment protects its January 6 Capitol riot coverage

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3 Fired Journalists Sue U.S. Department of Defence After USS Lincoln 'Report'

US Justice Department withdraws subpoenas against New York Times over Air Force one Security report

Fox News claims First Amendment protects its January 6 Capitol riot coverage