'Substantial Likelihood Of Wrongdoing' By VOA Parent Agency, Government Watchdog Says

[swag]

Source: NPR


DAVID FOLKENFLIK

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel, a federal watchdog, disclosed Wednesday that it had found "a substantial likelihood of wrongdoing" at the parent agency of the Voice of America under the leadership of the CEO appointed by President Trump.

Since taking over the U.S. Agency for Global Media, CEO Michael Pack has turned it upside down, sidelining top executives, firing network chiefs, and deep-sixing requests for visa extensions for foreign staffers. Most notably, Pack had two senior political aides with records of strongly pro-Trump ideological statements investigate journalists for perceived anti-Trump bias and push for sympathetic news coverage of the president during the campaign.

The finding is yet another formal and stinging rebuke to Pack's actions, though it is not a final determination. In late November, U.S. Judge Beryl Howell ruled that Pack had acted unconstitutionally in investigating his own journalists on political grounds. She ordered him to stop intervening inside VOA's newsrooms. Suspended executives have separately filed a complaint with the inspector general of the U.S. State Department, which has jurisdiction over the agency.

"It's a significant step, but far from the last one," said David Seide, senior counsel to the Government Accountability Project, a nonprofit public interest law firm representing more than 20 whistleblowers at USAGM, VOA and its sister networks. "Our clients have disclosed significant and frankly shocking allegations at this agency. It's gratifying that OSC made this independent judgment."

Read more: https://www.npr.org/2020/12/02/941673587/substantial-likelihood-of-wrongdoing-by-voa-parent-agency-government-watchdog-sa?utm_source=Pew+Research+Center&utm_campaign=451b44786f-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_12_03_02_47&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3e953b9b70-451b44786f-400751857

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. David Folkenflik

Good source. He's been a junkyard dog about the VOA.

[Laelth]

2. I see a Pardon in Pack's future. n/t

-Laelth

[RVN VET71]

7. I hope Joe and Pamela can be quiet about this s.o.b. until after the inauguration

It is important, vitally important, that the new administration go after every cockroach in the Trump administration wherever they are found. Go after them through the courts and hang onto them like bulldogs until they are sentenced to jail.

During Cheney/Bush I worked at an agency that had as one of it's communications drones a closeted queer who actually paid a company to scrape clean his office and his home hard drive. Everyone knew this dog (bitch?) had committed crimes and improprieties while in office but nothing was ever done to him. Oh, he did get outdid and that may have affected his career as a Republic drone. But he never was arrested or investigated.

Not this time, please! Go after every one of them until they are all crushed like the bugs they are. Don't excuse inaction on the basis of "well, we just don't have the manpower or the time." If you don't have the manpower to pursue investigations and trial, hire what you need. (And please, please, please don't tell me you won't go after Giuliani because of his age!)

[elleng]

3. No sh*t, sherlock.

[SWBTATTReg]

4. Another reason for Mr. Biden to really do some house cleaning, eliminate corruption, jail the ...

offenders...and do so in a way that trump's ignorant pardons don't take the bite of out of being convicted, jailed or equivalent for blatant corruption and/or breaking the law.

[calimary]

5. There MUST be consequences.

We can’t just “move on and let bygones be bygones.”

When I was still working, I had a friend at VOA. He went to all the interview junkets and big events so I ran into him all the time. One of the good guys for sure. VOA was a legitimate, credible member of the media family, respected and highly regarded, with a sterling reputation. At least until trump came along, and put a stooge in, to serve as wrecking crew.

Michael Pack deserves to face charges. Serious charges!

[SWBTATTReg]

6. I agree. Although I don't personally know the VOA, I've heard many positive things about the org.,

(in the past).

[crickets]

8. Voice of America is yet another wonderful organization wrecked by donnie and his pals.

Time to set things right again: clean house and press charges. Good start by getting rid of Pack.

The Office of Special Counsel's order places Pack in the unusual position of initiating an investigation into allegations of actions that stem from his own directives. Additionally, the order gives him 60 days - past the inauguration date of President-elect Joe Biden, who has already signaled his intention to replace Pack. Nonetheless it requires a sweeping review of Pack's actions.