Politico reports:

Top Navy officials are recommending that Capt. Brett Crozier, the former commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, be reinstated to his position, according to a senior defense official with knowledge of the decision.

The unprecedented decision, which still must be approved by Defense Secretary Mark Esper, would be a stunning rebuke to former acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly, who fired Crozier over his handling of the outbreak and later resigned over remarks he made to the ship’s crew.

Navy leaders verbally briefed Esper on the recommendations in the service’s preliminary inquiry Friday afternoon, Pentagon spokesperson Jonathan Hoffman said in a statement. Once Esper receives a written copy of the completed inquiry, he will “thoroughly review” the report and will meet again with Navy leaders to discuss “next steps,” Hoffman said.

Esper is likely to support the Navy’s decision. Hoffman said earlier Friday that while “he is going into this with an open mind,” Esper is “generally inclined” to support the chain of command.

But Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, wants “a different approach,” according to the senior defense official. [Continue reading…]