Michael Pack
Source: US Senate
Leaders of Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty have blown up the Trump-appointed chief executive of the US Federal Media Agency.
In a letter received by CNBC, leaders within the network criticized Michael Pack, the head of the US Global Media Agency. Radio-Free Europe / Radio Liberty is considered a non-federal broadcasting network, but it is affiliated with the USAGM.
He shook up the ranks of the agency and the leadership of his networks and installed fellow loyalists of President Donald Trump in key roles.
The letter contains criticism of the nominations of Pack’s board, which Ted Lipien later approved to become the CEO of Radio Free Europe.
“You have appointed a board of inexperienced biased appointments without any industry or regional expertise, a board that you have named as a placeholder board, and yet one that you apparently want to hedge for two years or more now,” the letter reads .
“You have used this advice to summarily approve Ted Lipien, an untested, unprecedented candidate with a history of often one-sided writing about RFE / RL and other U.S. international broadcasters,” it added.
The Associated Press reported that Lipien, a former Voice of America official, recently ran a blog post promoting the views of staff members, objecting to what they see as alleged liberal prejudice and a lack of conservative views in the program. . Voice of America falls under the law of USAGM.
The letter was signed by members of Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty’s news department and editorial staff, including the editor-in-chief and heads of digital strategy. The letter was dated Wednesday and was also sent to congressional leaders such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, and Senate Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
Pack printed the letter back in a statement provided to CNBC.
“Ms Sindelar’s letter was filled with inaccuracies. No attempt was made to ‘the [networks’] freedom of political influence. “On the contrary, all the actions I have taken are based on my congressional responsibility and dedication to carrying out the mission of USAGM,” said Pack.
The letter points out that Pack is unlikely to retain his job after President-elect Joe Biden was sworn in. However, the letter indicates that the leaders in the editorial board believe that Pack will continue to bring in new leaders anyway.
“We view these actions as an attempt to gain a foothold on RFE / RL for a single US political party in the eleventh hour at a time when your own term of office as Secretary of State for Foreign Broadcasting is likely to end with the transition. between governments in Washington, ‘the news leaders wrote.
Pack, which has been at the helm of USAGM since June, has been criticized for repeated purges by longtime leaders at various networks under the agency.
Shortly after being confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Pack fired the heads of the agency and board members, only to appoint those with direct ties to Trump.
Representatives of USAGM and Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty did not return requests for comment.