Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly apologized Monday night for remarks he made earlier in the day criticizing Capt. Brett Crozier for his handling of a coronavirus outbreak aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier.
On Monday, Modly gave a speech over the aircraft carrier’s onboard public address system in which he described his reasons for removing Crozier from command of the aircraft carrier and said the captain was either “too naive or too stupid” to lead the ship. In a statement reported by CNN, Modly walked back some of his remarks and apologized to the captain for the criticism.
“Let me be clear, I do not think Captain Brett Crozier is naïve nor stupid. I think, and always believed him to be the opposite. We pick our carrier commanding officers with great care. Captain Crozier is smart and passionate,” Modly’s statement reads. “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 apologize for any confusion this choice of words may have caused.”
Modly previously stated he chose to relieve Crozier’s command of the ship over what he described as a loss of confidence in Crozier’s leadership. Modly said Crozier “raised concerns about the operational capabilities and operational security of the ship” when he described the outbreak on the ship in a widely disseminated email, which later leaked to the press.
In his Monday address to the crew Modly described Crozier’s email as a “betrayal.” In his Monday night comments, Modly directed part of his apology to Crozier and his family for “any pain my remarks may have caused.”
Modly reportedly delivered his apology after several lawmakers criticized his own handling of the controversy.
Rep. Adam Smith, (D-WA), the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee called for Modly to be removed.
I strongly disagree with acting SecNav Modly’s decision to relieve Capt. Crozier. It was at best an overreaction to the extraordinary steps the Captain took to protect his crew. It’s a tone-deaf approach focused on ego when we need calm, steady leadership. https://t.co/QayXlnf90D
— Rep. Adam Smith (@RepAdamSmith) April 6, 2020
Rep. Elaine Luria, (D-VA), was another lawmaker who tweeted calls for Modly’s immediate removal.
Our sailors deserve better. The only way to restore confidence in Naval leadership is for the immediate termination of the Acting @SECNAV by @EsperDoD. https://t.co/3nR9ZUel6N
— Elaine Luria (@ElaineLuriaVA) April 7, 2020
Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Mike Gilday reportedly advised against relieving Crozier of his command until the Navy could complete a review of the incident. Gilday was expected to receive the initial results into the investigation of whether Crozier violated the chain of command in his email disclosure on Monday night, however he reportedly announced an extension of the investigation Monday night.
