The U.S. Navy has not ruled out reinstating the captain whose letter about the coronavirus-stricken USS Theodore Roosevelt ended in his removal and the resignation of the military branch’s acting head.
Adm. Michael Gilday, the chief of naval operations, has remained open to the concept of reinstating Capt. Brett Crozier, but Gilday’s spokesman told the New York Times on Wednesday that “no final decisions have been made” regarding the matter.
Gilday is reviewing the results of a preliminary investigation into the matter and said last week that he is “taking no options off the table … I think that is my responsibility.”
During the controversy, President Trump indicated that he “might get involved” in the dispute. He also characterized Crozier and then-acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly as “two good people.”
“I’m going to get involved and see exactly what’s going on there because I don’t want to destroy somebody for having a bad day,” he said.
Crozier was ousted after a letter expressing his fears about a novel coronavirus outbreak on the ship was published in the media. Navy officials accused him of purposely allowing the letter to be leaked while sailors on the ship have hailed their former captain as a hero because of his concern for the crew.
Numerous lawmakers, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, called for Modly to be removed after audio of a profanity-laden speech he gave to Crozier’s former sailors was leaked. In the speech, Modly said Crozier was either “too naive or too stupid to be a commanding officer” of the ship.
After initially standing by his remarks, Modly later apologized to Crozier.
“I want to apologize to the Navy for my recent comments to the crew of the TR. Let me be clear, I do not think Capt. Brett Crozier is naive nor stupid. I think, and always believed him to be the opposite,” he said.
Despite the apology, Modly resigned from his post the following day.
Since the drama unfolded, more than 600 sailors on the USS Theodore Roosevelt have tested positive for COVID-19, including Crozier himself. One service member on the ship died from complications related to the illness.
