USAGM Watch Commentary
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) has announced the start of investigative interviews in his two-year probe into corruption at the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), currently headed by USAGM CEO Amanda Bennett. Previously, Bennett had served from 2016 until 2020 as Voice of America (VOA) director. Among her key trusted advisors is a longtime former VOA and now USAGM executive, Kelu Chao, and current acting VOA director Yolanda Lopez. Since 2016 and even earlier, multiple management and programming scandals have been reported at the Voice of America and the U.S. Agency for Global Media, previously known as the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG).
The Voice of America English news website (VOANews.com) has not reported on the latest press release from Rep. McCaul about the investigation into corruption at USAGM.
PRESS RELEASE
McCaul Begins Investigative Interviews Into Corruption at U.S. Agency for Global Media
Press Release 07.24.23
Media Contact 202-226-8467
Washington, D.C.– House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul issued the following statement today announcing a significant milestone in his two-year investigation into corruption at the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). The committee’s unwavering commitment to pursuing truth and accountability has uncovered alarming evidence of misconduct and negligence at the senior-most levels of the agency.
“My two-year-long investigation into corruption at the U.S. Agency for Global Media has taken a major step forward. The agency has confirmed that high-ranking officials were aware of questions that remained unresolved even after an internal investigation of employee misconduct. Rather than pursuing the matter further, officials shelved credible allegations, including instances of waste of taxpayer funds, credentialing fraud, and abuse of office, and offered not so much as a slap on the wrist for relevant actors. We need to know why. I will keep working until the agency stops rewarding misconduct, improves its vetting practices, and tells the American people the truth.”
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