Bronx, NY—Representative Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement:

“Mr. Pack has taken his rampage on America’s international broadcasting to another level. He’s trying to tear down the legally mandated firewall that protects USAGM broadcasters from outside interference. But Congress created that firewall by law and although Mr. Pack can huff and puff, he can’t blow that wall down. The rule he rescinded yesterday clarified the legal protections. The firewall remains.

“This may come as small comfort to journalists at USAGM broadcasters, as Mr. Pack has shown again and again that he doesn’t feel constrained by laws. Legal action against him is piling up and he remains in defiance of a duly authorized subpoena to appear before the Committee on Foreign Affairs. However, I encourage USAGM journalists to continue carrying out their important work and to ignore illegal interference from Mr. Pack and other administration officials. The law remains on your side.

“I renew my call for Mr. Pack to resign or be fired. Though his tenure will hopefully soon come to an end, I worry what additional damage he can do in the meantime. It will be critical for the next Congress to repair the damage he’s done and to enact protections that will prevent an ideologue like him from attempting to destroy the agency again.”

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