JUST IN: Navy recommends reinstating fired captain of the USS Theodore Roosevelt

The Navy has recommended reinstating Capt. Brett Crozier as commander of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, according to The New York Times.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday and acting Navy Secretary James McPherson made the recommendation to Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Friday when briefing him about the results of the investigation into the coronavirus outbreak aboard the aircraft carrier, according to the Times.

Esper asked for more time to consider whether to reinstate Crozier, the Times added.

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Crozier was removed from his position as the commander of the Roosevelt after a letter he wrote pleading for help with a coronavirus outbreak aboard leaked to the press.

Earlier, the Pentagon had said Esper would be “generally inclined” to support the Navy’s recommendation.

“He's going into this with an open mind, and he is generally inclined to support Navy leadership in their decisions,” chief Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman told reporters at a briefing before Esper was given the recommendation.

“But he will go into it with an open mind, and we will, once he's briefed, we will see where that takes us.”

Developing

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