“Right now the Workplace of the Legal professional Normal for the District of Columbia (OAG) knowledgeable the Senate Overseas Relations Committee that it’s actively investigating a nonprofit group, the Public Media Lab, run by Michael Pack, President Trump’s nominee for CEO of the U.S. Company for International Media,” Sen. Bob Menendez, the committee’s rating member, mentioned in an announcement.
“The OAG is investigating whether or not Mr. Pack’s use of his nonprofit’s funds was illegal and whether or not he improperly used these funds to profit himself,” the New Jersey senator continued.
David A. Mayorga, a spokesman for the lawyer common’s workplace, confirmed the investigation however declined to remark additional.
Trump has been important of Voice of America, saying in April that “issues they are saying are disgusting towards our nation.”
He is additionally touted Pack as his answer and has pushed for his affirmation.
“Michael Pack would get in and he’d do an awesome job, however he is been ready now for 2 years. Cannot get him accredited,” Trump mentioned final month.
The Senate Overseas relations committee had been scheduled to vote on Pack’s nomination on Thursday however that vote was canceled.
Menendez mentioned the lawyer common can also be requesting paperwork from the Overseas Affairs Committee after the committee reviewed public information associated to Pack’s enterprise dealings following his affirmation listening to final yr.
That overview, “revealed that the Public Media Lab acquired a number of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in grants and transferred these funds solely to Mr. Pack’s for-profit movie manufacturing firm,” Menendez mentioned.
CNN has requested remark from the White Home and Pack.
Menendez went on to criticize Pack for stonewalling the committee’s requests and the committee’s chairman, Republican Sen. James Risch of Idaho.
“For practically eight months, Mr. Pack has refused to supply the Senate Overseas Relations Committee with paperwork it requested that get to the center of the matter that the OAG is now investigating, or to appropriate false statements he made to the IRS… Chairman Risch by no means ought to have put Mr. Pack up for a committee vote in mild of Mr. Pack’s refusal to return clear with the Senate on his vetting points.”
CNN has reached out to Risch’s workplace for remark.
Beforehand, a number of sources throughout the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which oversees the USAGM, have privately expressed concern over Pack’s nomination.
There’s additionally concern Pack will flip what has been thought-about America’s voice overseas towards a decidedly extra pro-Trump bent, although the companies below the BBG are unbiased of the presidential administration, with the board performing as firewall. A number of staffers on the company informed CNN they plan to depart if Pack is confirmed.
Ought to Pack be confirmed, he’d have extra unilateral energy over the company due to a provision enacted within the final weeks of the Obama administration that will disband the bipartisan board in favor of an advisory board, which supporters noticed as a firewall between the administration and the company. Proponents promoted the transfer as one to make the group extra environment friendly.
CNN’s Caroline Kelly and Hadas Gold contributed to this report.
— to www.cnn.com
