USAGM Chief Defies House Foreign Affairs Subpoena, Stoking Leaders' Ire
U.S. Agency for Global Media CEO Michael Pack followed through on expectations he would defy a House Foreign Affairs Committee subpoena to testify Thursday (see 2009230045), drawing bipartisan criticism. Pack earlier committed to appear before but pulled out, citing unspecified…
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administrative proceedings, said committee Chairman Eliot Engel, D-N.Y. Pack “manufactured this conflict to get out of being here today,” Engel said. Pack is the “wrong person for the job. He should resign, and if he doesn’t, [President Donald Trump] should fire him.” USAGM didn’t immediately comment. Pack has drawn congressional scrutiny since the Senate confirmed him earlier this year (see 2006240054) and faces a lawsuit by USAGM grantee Open Technology Fund seeking to block his attempted purge of OTF leadership. Pack’s "actions damaged support during the heights of unrest in Hong Kong, and they are continuing to do so today in Belarus” amid protest against both places’ governments, said ranking member Michael McCaul, R-Texas. He claimed Pack ignored “the will of Congress” and “basic questions.” The committee “deserves the respect of a response,” McCaul said.