Removal Of CVN 71 Captain May Have Violated Military Whistleblower Law
“The removal of Captain Crozier as commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt may have violated whistleblower laws,” according to the national whistleblower law expert Stephen M. Kohn.
Captain Brett Crozier sent a strongly worded memorandum to the Navy Command requesting help for his crew. He explained that the aircraft carrier was “unable to comply with CDC protocols” to “prevent unnecessary deaths.” He warned: “If we do not act now, we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset – our sailors.” As of Friday morning, 137 members of Captain Crozier’s crew tested positive for COVID-19.
“Military law permitted Captain Crozier to inform a wide range of officials of the life-threatening conditions aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, including any ‘substantial and specific danger to public health or safety,’” according to Kohn. The whistleblower law also permitted Captain Crozier to report “gross mismanagement” committed by the U.S. Navy.
“Under legal precedent, the failure of the U.S. Navy to take immediate and effective steps to stop the spread of the Coronavirus on the USS Theodore Roosevelt could reasonably be viewed by Captain Crozier as ‘gross mismanagement.’ Furthermore, the life-threatening conditions on the carrier unquestionably constituted ‘substantial and specific danger to public health and safety. Consequently, Captain Crozier’s memorandum to the Navy was a protected disclosure under law,” Kohn said.
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news...tleblower-law/