At Voice of America, Trump Appointee Sought Political Influence Over Coverage

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1. Voice of America Journalists: New CEO Endangers Reporters, Harms U.S. Aims

POLITICS

Voice of America Journalists: New CEO Endangers Reporters, Harms U.S. Aims

August 31, 2020 9:30 AM ET

DAVID FOLKENFLIK Twitter

A group of veteran journalists for the Voice of America delivered a letter of protest Monday denouncing their parent agency's new CEO, Michael Pack, and alleging Pack's remarks in a recent interview prove he has a damaging agenda for the international broadcasters he oversees.

Pack's comments and decisions "endanger the personal security of VOA reporters at home and abroad, as well as threatening to harm U.S. national security objectives," the letter to VOA Acting Director Elez Biberaj read.

The protest was triggered by Pack's interview with the conservative and pro-Trump website The Federalist but came after a long line of sweeping changes and purges at the federally funded networks overseen by Pack, an appointee of President Trump.

During the half-hour conversation, Pack joked with The Federalist's host, senior editor Chris Bedford, about deporting his own employees and forcing them to adopt unsafe workplace practices that could expose them to COVID-19. Pack said the agency was ripe for espionage and possibly rife with spies.

"It's a great place to put a foreign spy," Pack said, citing what he contended were severe security lapses by previous leadership.

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