CNBC's Sue Herera reports that Acting Navy Secretary Modly is resigning under pressure following comments he made Monday about Navy Captain Brett Crozier, who raised the alarm that crew members on board the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt had coronavirus symptoms.
The Navy’s top civilian has resigned after criticizing an aircraft carrier captain who pleaded for help with a coronavirus outbreak on his ship.
Secretary of Defense Mark Esper accepted the resignation and tapped the Under Secretary of the Army James McPherson to be the new acting Navy Secretary.
The move comes hours after acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly apologized for ridiculing U.S. Navy captain Brett Crozier, whose letter pleading for help amid a coronavirus outbreak on a U.S. warship was leaked to the media.
“Let me be clear, I do not think Captain Brett Crozier is naïve nor stupid,” wrote Modly in a statement on Monday. “I believe, precisely because he is not naive and stupid, that he sent his alarming email with the intention of getting it into the public domain in an effort to draw public attention to the situation on his ship.”
“I also want to apologize directly to Captain Crozier, his family, and the entire crew of the Theodore Roosevelt for any pain my remarks may have caused,” he added.
Modly’s decision came after prominent leaders, including U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, called for him to resign. “Sadly, Acting Secretary Modly’s actions and words demonstrate his failure to prioritize the force protection of our troops,” Pelosi said in a statement.
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