Federal inquiry details abuses of power by Trump's CEO over Voice of America
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Loading... - Claire James
- 22 May 2023
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After being confirmed as the chief executive of the U.S. Agency for Global Media in June 2020, Michael Pack wasted no time in targeting senior leaders at the agency and the Voice of America based on their perceived political beliefs. In a memo, one employee described a senior leader as "hating Republicans," while another was said to openly despise Trump and Republicans. The employee also mentioned that a third leader was not aligned with the Trump team. These actions violated federal civil service law, as political affiliation should not be a basis for firing someone.
Within just two days, Pack initiated efforts to remove these employees deemed suspicious, as revealed by a recent federal investigation. However, the executives he sidelined were later reinstated and cleared of any wrongdoing by the inspector general's office of the U.S. State Department. Pack then shifted his attention to agency executives, network chiefs, and journalists.
The investigation report, submitted to the White House and Congressional leaders, highlighted Pack's repeated abuse of power, violations of laws and regulations, and gross mismanagement. The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) oversees the Voice of America and other international broadcasters funded by the federal government, including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, and Radio Television Martí. These networks are responsible for providing unbiased news in societies where independent news coverage is limited or financially unviable, and for promoting pluralistic political discourse within their coverage.
"This report is truly astounding in its comprehensive account of the misconduct that occurred within these agencies during the final six months of the Trump administration," remarked David Seide, an attorney with the Government Accountability Project, which has represented numerous whistleblowers at USAGM, VOA, and its sister networks during Pack's tenure. "It is truly shocking."
The 145-page report substantiates many of the whistleblower complaints independently. It adds further depth and credibility to previous reporting by NPR, investigations conducted by a U.S. inspector general, and rulings made by federal and local judges in the District of Columbia.
Collectively, these findings depict Pack's brief time in office as a politically motivated rampage through a government agency, aimed at coercing newsrooms and employees to align with the White House. He retaliated against executives who challenged the legality of his actions, undermined journalistic independence within the agency's newsrooms, and personally authorized a no-bid contract with a private law firm to investigate employees he perceived as opposing former President Donald Trump. The law firm's fees for this work, which is typically handled by federal employees, amounted to seven figures.
In a manner reminiscent of former President Trump, Pack claimed that his actions were aimed at "draining the swamp," combating corruption, and addressing issues of bias. However, Pack declined NPR's request for comment.
Pack, a conservative documentarian and former official at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, faced a two-year delay in his Senate confirmation due to concerns about his highly ideological approach and his lack of transparency regarding his business finances. Eventually, his production company agreed to return $210,000 to a nonprofit organization that he also controlled. The nonprofit was subsequently dissolved as part of a legal settlement Pack reached with the D.C. Attorney General's office last year.
