Acting Navy Secretary Modly is firing Crozier for going public. He says Crozier "at no time relayed" the serious levels of alarm that he wrote in his letter, which appeared in "his hometown newspaper."
Moldy said Crozier says he didn't follow procedures or tell the right people, basically. Then Modly says he sent out the letter over non-secure, unclass email. (Nothing in the letter is classified.)
Wow. Modly argues he had it all under control and then accuses Crozier of causing unnecessary public embarrassment, scaring families, and signaling chaos to adversaries.
Modly calls Crozier "an honorable man" despite this one lack of judgement. Then he says he ordered a review of "the climate" across the entire Pacific fleet.
Acting SecNav Modly says not about "retribution" ... "It is not an indictment of character, but one of judgment" and says captain was "absolutely" right to raise issues. "It was the way in which he did it" by going outside chain of command "and not reaching out to me directly."
CNO now saying he gave his opinion and supports the acting SecNav's decision.
Capt. Crozier is going to be a hero to the sailors of the Teddy Roosevelt. This is a story about two things: Navy rules and traditions... and the politics of Trump and Navy leadership being embarrassed for not acting fast enough for the crew during a crisis.
Modly is saying Crozier's letter was sent to too many people and "created a panic...on the ship" and with families stateside and "misrepresented the facts."
Modly is asked why he mentioned Crozier's "hometown paper" if he didn't know he leaked it. Modly says he knows nothing, apologizes for the insinuation.k
Modly is asked "Is he really being relieved because he cc'ed too many peope on this letter?"
Modly responds: "To me, he demonstrated poor judgment" and repeats his claims of panic. Then refuses to say who did get the letter.
Modly responds: "To me, he demonstrated poor judgment" and repeats his claims of panic. Then refuses to say who did get the letter.
Modly: "I don't know what motivated him. I just know that he exercised extremely poor judgment."
Modly keeps insisting the captain could have had everything he wanted if he went through the chain of command and talked it out.
But... he didn't get it. He hadn't. For days.
Hence... the letter.
But... he didn't get it. He hadn't. For days.
Hence... the letter.
