Both Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper have said that reinstating the captain of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, Brett Crozier, is "on the table."
Crozier was dismissed from his position by former Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly after a four-page letter written by Crozier leaked to the media. The letter was a desperate plea for help in the fight against coronavirus that had broken out onboard the carrier. Modly has since resigned, apologizing for disparaging the captain.
Captain of USS Theodore Roosevelt who pleaded for coronavirus help relieved of dut
The bizarre 24-hour USS TR saga left sailors at all levels of the chain of command questioning decisions that transpired throughout the course of the incident. Gilday launched an investigation specifically to determine what happened within the USS TR's chain of command that led to Crozier's four-page letter.
Gilday told the Associated Press that the investigation has since been completed, and — as he studies the report — no options, including reinstating Crozier, have been ruled out.
LISTEN: The leaked speech about the leaked letter: Navy Sec slams USS TR captain
“I am taking no options off the table,” Gilday told Associated Press.
Esper echoed these sentiments in a CBS News interview Friday morning.
"We've taken nothing off the table,” Esper said. “My inclination is always to support the chain of command, and to take the recommendations seriously."
SECNAV apologizes for calling USS TR captain 'too stupid' as Trump hints at intervention
The coronavirus situation among USS TR crew members continues to develop. As of Thursday, more than 400 sailors from the vessel had tested positive for COVID-19. One was found in his isolation quarters on Guam unresponsive and moved into an intensive care unit.
413 USS Theodore Roosevelt COVID-19 cases, 1 sailor found unresponsive
With 413 positive COVID-19 cases from the USS Theodore Roosevelt, the aircraft carrier now accounts for 70 percent of all COVID-19 cases in the U.S. Navy — and about 20 percent of all active-duty cases across the entire military. The vessel is still awaiting the results of roughly 1,000 additional tests.
The Navy outpaces all other branches of the service with 597 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Thursday morning. The Army has the second-highest case count with 389.
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Follow Elizabeth Howe on Twitter @ECBHowe
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