Judge thwarts Trump administration quest to silence Voice of America

A federal judge ruled that a recently appointed head of the Voice of America violated the First Amendment by firing and reassigning executives and suspending an editor for what he claimed was unsympathetic coverage of President Donald Trump. “Editorial independence and journalistic integrity free of political interference are the core elements that sustain VOA and make us America’s voice,” said Acting VOA Director Elez Biberaj in response to the judge’s ruling. (NPR, November 21, 2020, by David Folkenflik)

Judge Beryl Howell ordered Michael Pack, a conservative filmmaker, to stop firing journalists and to stop communicating with them. Pack had promised to eliminate the rule protecting the VOA from politicking. (Daily Beast, November 21, 2020, by Blake Montgomery)