Intel: Democrats condemn US broadcasting CEO’s Middle East purges after expanding office’s powers
President Donald Trump’s new CEO of the US Agency for Global Media on Wednesday fired the heads of at least three of its outlets who collectively oversaw its Middle East and Iran coverage. The move sparked immediate condemnation from key Democrats despite their previous bipartisan support for expanding the CEO’s powers.
President Donald Trump’s new CEO of the US Agency for Global Media on Wednesday fired the heads of at least three of its outlets who collectively oversaw its Middle East and Iran coverage. The move sparked immediate condemnation from key Democrats despite their previous bipartisan support for expanding the powers of the CEO position.
US Agency for Global Media CEO Michael Pack, a conservative filmmaker, fired Middle East Broadcasting Network chief Alberto Fernandez and Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe chief Jamie Fly, who also oversaw Radio Farda, the agency’s Persian-language programming. Pack also ousted Radio Free Asia chief Bay Fang.
Pack, who is under investigation for allegedly misusing funds at his nonprofit, assumed the office this month after the Senate confirmed him in a 53-38 party-line vote.
Why it matters: The top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Bob Menendez, D-N.J., said Pack is on a political mission to destroy the agency's "independence and undermine its historic role.”
