Latest news with #VoiceOfAmerica
Washington Post
7 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Kari Lake moves to consolidate her power to dismantle Voice of America
Kari Lake, the Arizona Republican politician tasked with overseeing the Trump administration's dismantling of Voice of America, has taken new steps to consolidate power at the agency. On Tuesday, Lake locked Victor Morales — the acting CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, VOA's parent agency — out of his email and electronic systems, several people with knowledge of the decision told The Washington Post, speaking on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. And according to a new court filing, Lake has ordered VOA Director Michael Abramowitz, who has been on administrative leave since March and is a lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against her, to accept a new position in Greenville, North Carolina — or be fired.
New York Times
18-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Ex-Voice of America Employee Arrested and Charged With Threatening Marjorie Taylor Greene
A former employee of Voice of America was arrested on Thursday on charges of repeatedly threatening to kill Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and others. Seth Jason, who previously worked as a studio supervisor and lighting director at the federally funded news agency, was charged with four felonies in the case. Prosecutors accused Mr. Jason of making eight calls — from Oct. 11, 2023, to Jan. 21, 2025 — threatening to kill Ms. Greene, her staff, and their families with 'the use of firearms.' 'The U.S. Capitol Police investigation revealed that the phone calls were made from various phone lines connected to studios and control rooms at Voice of America headquarters, where Jason had worked as a longtime employee,' the Department of Justice said in a statement announcing his arrest. Federal prosecutors have previously charged people who have made violent threats against Ms. Greene, a hard-right ally of President Trump in Congress who has more recently had public disagreements with the president. In the years before she was elected to Congress, Ms. Greene repeatedly endorsed executing top Democratic politicians on social media. 'Threatening an elected official, their family, or their staff is not free speech,' Ms. Greene said in a statement thanking law enforcement officials for bringing the case. 'It's a crime, and it must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. My family and I are incredibly grateful.' The department did not describe the threats in detail in its statement, and investigators have not provided additional information in court filings. A lawyer for Mr. Jason declined to comment. But the nature of the charges against Mr. Jason suggest that prosecutors will portray his actions as politically motivated. The two most serious charges he faces accuse him of making threats as a means to coerce Ms. Greene, either intending to intimidate the congresswoman or to punish her for her official conduct. Those two charges — influencing a federal official by threatening them and influencing a federal official by threatening the official's family — each carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The government accuses Mr. Jason of making most of the threats during the Biden administration, and making a final threatening call on Jan. 21, the second day of President Trump's second term. That was months before Mr. Trump began his sweeping effort to dismantle Voice of America, which once reached millions worldwide but whose operations have now been sharply reduced.
CBS News
17-07-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Maryland man arrested for allegedly threatening U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene
A Maryland man was arrested for allegedly threatening U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, from Georgia, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Edgewater resident Seth Jason was taken into custody on Thursday, July 17, by U.S. Capitol Police and Anne Arundel County Police. He is facing charges of influencing a federal official by threatening a family member, influencing a federal official by threat, interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure, and anonymous telecommunications harassment. Anne Arundel County Police said Jason served as a volunteer with the Anne Arundel County Police Reserve Officer Unit since 2016. According to the police department, the Anne Arundel County Reserve Officers are unarmed and have no police authority. He is no longer affiliated with the Anne Arundel County Police Department. An indictment alleges that Jason made threatening calls to the Dalton and Rome District Offices in Georgia for Rep. Greene, a Republican, between Oct. 11, 2023, and Jan. 21, 2025. In eight calls made over 15 months, Jason threatened the use of firearms to kill Rep. Greene, her staff, and their families, according to an investigation by the U.S. Capitol Police. The phone calls were allegedly made from several phone lines connected to studios and control rooms at Voice of America headquarters, where he worked as a longtime employee. The indictment alleges that Jason "repeatedly threatened to assault and murder the family members of Marjorie Taylor Greene, a U.S. Representative, while she was engaged in the performance of official duties or in retaliation against Representative Greene for the performance of her official duties." If found guilty on all charges, Jason could face up to 17 years in prison, according to the Justice Department. Marjorie Taylor Greene is a Republican U.S. Representative from Georgia. She has held office since 2021. Greene has been a vocal advocate for President Donald Trump.
CNN
17-07-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Maryland man charged with threatening Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and her family
A Maryland man was arrested Thursday on charges that he made threatening calls to the Georgia offices of Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Seth Jason, 64, repeatedly threatened to assault and kill Greene and her family during several calls to her district offices in between October 2023 and January 2025, according to his four-count indictment. Jason also threatened Greene's staff members and their families, authorities said. He worked for Voice of America and made threatening calls using phone lines connected to studios and control rooms at the news agency's headquarters in Washington, according to the US Capitol Police. Jason, of Edgewater, Maryland, also volunteered as a reserve officer for the Anne Arundel County Police Department in Maryland. The department said in a statement that Jason had served as a volunteer since 2016. 'Anne Arundel County Reserve Officers are unarmed and have no police authority. Mr. Jason is no longer affiliated with the Anne Arundel County Police Department,' the statement said. A lawyer for Jason did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. A grand jury indicted Jason on charges of influencing a federal official by threat, influencing a federal official by threatening a family member, interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure and anonymous telecommunications harassment. Jason was expected to make his initial court appearance in Washington on Thursday. 'No one should have to live their life looking over their shoulder every day and wondering if those threats are about to be fulfilled and about to come true,' acting US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said at a news conference. Pirro read aloud some of the statements that Jason is accused of making during the calls to Greene's offices. 'I am looking forward to your book signing. We are all armed and ready to take care of you,' Jason said, according to Pirro. Threats against members of Congress and other public officials have surged as the nation's political landscape has become increasingly divisive. During the news conference, Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan alluded to the June 14 shootings in Minnesota by a man charged with killing the Democratic leader in the state House and her husband after wounding another lawmaker and his wife. 'This has got to stop,' Sullivan said. 'This has changed since Minnesota. We are going to work very, very hard to hold you accountable if you make these threats.'
CNN
17-07-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Maryland man charged with threatening Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and her family
A Maryland man was arrested Thursday on charges that he made threatening calls to the Georgia offices of Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Seth Jason, 64, repeatedly threatened to assault and kill Greene and her family during several calls to her district offices in between October 2023 and January 2025, according to his four-count indictment. Jason also threatened Greene's staff members and their families, authorities said. He worked for Voice of America and made threatening calls using phone lines connected to studios and control rooms at the news agency's headquarters in Washington, according to the US Capitol Police. Jason, of Edgewater, Maryland, also volunteered as a reserve officer for the Anne Arundel County Police Department in Maryland. The department said in a statement that Jason had served as a volunteer since 2016. 'Anne Arundel County Reserve Officers are unarmed and have no police authority. Mr. Jason is no longer affiliated with the Anne Arundel County Police Department,' the statement said. A lawyer for Jason did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. A grand jury indicted Jason on charges of influencing a federal official by threat, influencing a federal official by threatening a family member, interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure and anonymous telecommunications harassment. Jason was expected to make his initial court appearance in Washington on Thursday. 'No one should have to live their life looking over their shoulder every day and wondering if those threats are about to be fulfilled and about to come true,' acting US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said at a news conference. Pirro read aloud some of the statements that Jason is accused of making during the calls to Greene's offices. 'I am looking forward to your book signing. We are all armed and ready to take care of you,' Jason said, according to Pirro. Threats against members of Congress and other public officials have surged as the nation's political landscape has become increasingly divisive. During the news conference, Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan alluded to the June 14 shootings in Minnesota by a man charged with killing the Democratic leader in the state House and her husband after wounding another lawmaker and his wife. 'This has got to stop,' Sullivan said. 'This has changed since Minnesota. We are going to work very, very hard to hold you accountable if you make these threats.'
