Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly apologized Monday for calling Capt. Brett Crozier, the ousted commander of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, "too naive or too stupid" over his letter pleading for help following a coronavirus outbreak onboard.
The big picture: His apology came after President Trump told a news briefing earlier Monday he would "get involved" following a leak of Modly's remarks, obtained by CNN, to the ship's crew on Crozier — who has since been diagnosed with the coronavirus.
What he's saying: "Let me be clear, I do not think Captain Brett Crozier is naive nor stupid. I think, and always believed him to be the opposite," Modly said in his statement obtained by several news outlets.
What they're saying: House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-Wash.) issued a statement calling for Modly to be removed from his position over his remarks to the crew, saying: "I no longer have confidence in Acting Secretary Modly’s leadership of the Navy."
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
Flashback: Modly said in his speech to the crew, which was aired over the ship's public address system, that if Crozier didn't think his letter would be to be leaked, "then he was either ... too naive or too stupid to be a commanding officer of a ship like this. The alternative is that he did this on purpose."
- He also called the letter "a betrayal," adding "because he did that he put it in the public's forum and it is now a big controversy in Washington, D.C."
Go deeper: Acting Navy head called fired aircraft carrier captain "stupid" in address to crew
Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.
