Michael Pack
Source: United States Senate
Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty leaders have devastated Trump-appointed CEO of the US federal media agency.
In a letter obtained by CNBC, leaders within the network criticized Michael Pack, the head of the US Agency for Global Media. Radio-Free Europe / Radio Liberty is considered a non-federal broadcast network but is affiliated with the USAGM.
He has shaken the ranks of the agency and the leadership of his networks by installing fellow loyalists of President Donald Trump in key roles.
The letter criticizes Pack’s appointed board members, who later approved Ted Lipien as CEO of Radio Free Europe.
“You defy your long-standing practice and have appointed a board of inexperienced partisan appointees with no industry or regional expertise – a board you yourself called a placeholder board, and yet one that you are now apparently trying to anchor for two years or more,” read the letter.
“You used this board to summarily approve Ted Lipien, an untested, unscreened candidate with a history of often one-sided writing on RFE / RL and other US international broadcasters,” it continues.
The Associated Press reported that Lipien, a former Voice of America official, recently ran a blog post promoting the views of staffers who objected to what they saw as perceived liberal bias and a lack of conservative views in programming. Voice of America is under the purview of USAGM.
The letter was signed by members of the Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty news department and editorial staff, including the editor-in-chief and heads of digital strategy. The letter is dated Wednesday and has also been sent to Congressional leaders such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
Pack pushed back on the letter in a statement to CNBC.
Mrs. Sindelar’s letter is full of inaccuracies. No attempts have been made to ‘de [networks’] freedom from political influence. “On the contrary, all of the actions I have taken are based on my Congressional responsibility and commitment to fulfill the USAGM mission,” Pack said.
The letter points out that Pack is unlikely to keep his job after President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in. Still, the letter suggests that the editorial leaders think Pack is still moving forward in bringing in new leaders anyway.
“We view these actions as an eleventh hour attempt to get a grip on RFE / RL for a single US political party at a time when your own tenure as CEO of the US foreign broadcaster is likely to end with the transition between administrations in Washington, ”the news leaders wrote.
Pack, who has been at the helm of USAGM since June, has been criticized after repeated purges of old leaders at various networks under the agency.
Shortly after being confirmed by the United States Senate, Pack pushed the heads of agencies and board members out, only to name those who had direct ties to Trump.
Representatives from USAGM and Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty did not return requests for comment.