Trump's Criminal and Policy Cabal: Again Exposed this Time With VOA Hanky Panky

 

He is now cited for wrongdoing overseeing VOA

The Trump criminal and policy abuse cabal again exposed from this NBC News story and excellent video clip with this headline:

“Federal watchdog finds substantial likelihood of wrongdoing by Trump appointees overseeing *VOA”

(*VOA: Voice of America)

Introductory Highlight: WASHINGTON — A federal watchdog agency has found "a substantial likelihood of wrongdoing" by Trump administration appointees who oversee the Voice of America and other U.S.-funded media outlets.

The finding from the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) an independent government agency charged with safeguarding federal employees' rights, marks the latest rebuke of Michael Pack, who President Donald Trump appointed to run the U.S. Agency for Global Media, the parent agency to VOA and other broadcasters.

A federal judge last month ordered Pack to stop interfering in the newsrooms of VOA and other media outlets and found that he had jeopardized the First Amendment rights of journalists that his office had targeted for investigation. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle and press freedom groups have blasted Pack over his actions since he took over in June, accusing him of undermining the broadcasters' editorial independence and defying congressional authority.

After reviewing allegations from current and recent employees, the OSC wrote to the whistleblowers Wednesday (December 2) saying it had demanded Pack and the U.S. Agency for Global Media conduct an investigation into the allegations.

NBC News obtained one of the letters, which was signed by Karen Tanenbaum, an attorney in the retaliation and disclosure unit of the Office of Special Counsel.

The long list of allegations from the whistleblowers includes accounts of Pack and his deputies violating the legal firewall meant to protect the editorial independence of VOA and the other media outlets under his agency, including Radio Free Asia and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 

The whistleblowers also alleged that Pack and other officials “illegally repurposed, and pressured career staff to illegally repurpose, congressionally appropriated funds and programs without notifying Congress,” and disrupted media operations and endangered the safety of foreign national employees by refusing to renew their U.S. visas, according to the letter.

The whistleblowers include Steve Herman, a veteran reporter and VOA's White House bureau chief, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

Story continues at the above NBC link – a very excellent piece. Check it out.

My 2 cents: I wonder what else will be forthcoming about the Trump administration similar to this story.

A lot I suspect – of course that assumes they are not now busily destroying government files before they leave office??? We shall see.

Thanks for stopping by.