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The\u00a0Navy\u2019s leadership made the recommendation to reinstate Captain Brett Crozier to Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Friday, just three weeks after Crozier was relieved of command<\/a> after the leak of a letter<\/a> he wrote calling on the\u00a0Navy\u00a0for stronger measures to protect the crew, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Pentagon issued a statement acknowledging Esper received the results of the\u00a0Navy\u2019s preliminary inquiry into the Roosevelt incident. But it added that Esper wanted to review a written copy of the completed inquiry.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Suggesting no decision was imminent, the statement said Esper then \u201cintends to thoroughly review the report and will meet again with\u00a0Navy\u00a0leadership to discuss next steps.\u201d The\u00a0Navy\u00a0said in a statement \u201cno final decisions have been made.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith, a Democrat, called for Crozier\u2019s immediate reinstatement.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDuring this time of crisis, Captain Crozier is exactly what our Sailors need: a leader who inspires confidence,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A senior U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Esper wanted to be sure that the final\u00a0Navy\u00a0report would stand up to public scrutiny before signing off and stressed that the Roosevelt outbreak inquiry went far beyond Crozier.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n But Esper\u2019s deliberations raised questions about whether political or other considerations might override the Navy\u2019s recommendations in a case that has seen Democrats vocally critical of the Trump administration\u2019s handling of the matter.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sources say Crozier is one of the 856 sailors from the Roosevelt\u2019s 4,800-member crew who have tested positive<\/a> for the coronavirus, effectively taking one of the\u00a0Navy\u2019s most powerful ships out of operation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Crozier was fired by the\u00a0Navy\u2019s top civilian, then-acting\u00a0Navy\u00a0Secretary Thomas Modly, against the recommendations of uniformed leaders, who suggested he wait for an investigation into the letter\u2019s leak.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Modly\u2019s decision backfired badly, as members of the crew hailed their captain as a hero in an emotional sendoff captured on video<\/a> that went viral on social media.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Embarrassed, Modly then compounded his problems by flying out to the carrier to ridicule Crozier over the leak and question his character in a speech<\/a> to the Roosevelt\u2019s crew, which also leaked to the media. Modly then resigned<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n News of the\u00a0Navy\u2019s recommendations could boost morale among sailors on the Roosevelt, who were caught between the\u00a0Navy\u2019s desire to keep the ship operational and its duty to shield them from unnecessary risk in peacetime.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhen you are in the military you sign away a lot of your choices and your (ability) to share your opinions about some things,\u201d one sailor, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Reuters.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt is nice to see that us standing together for this (shows) that our voices matter.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n