Federal Judge Orders Kari Lake Deposed Over Voice of America Dismantling Efforts

A federal judge has barred Kari Lake, a Trump administration official and senior adviser for the U.S. Agency for Global Media, from firing Voice of America Director Michael Abramowitz, ordering his reinstatement until lawful removal procedures are followed. Judge Royce Lamberth found that Abramowitz can only be removed by a majority vote of the VOA’s advisory board, but the board was fired earlier this year by the Trump administration, with the president having the power to appoint new members. Additionally, Lamberth has ordered Lake and two aides, including Frank Wuco, to testify under oath by September 15 regarding her efforts to scale back and effectively dismantle Voice of America, citing her failure to comply with court orders and withholding of key information. The judge criticized Lake for actions violating legal and constitutional safeguards and warned of contempt of court if she continues to stonewall. Lake has defended her actions by citing a Trump executive order and challenged the court's authority, while lawsuits from VOA’s director, journalists, unions, and advocacy groups argue that her moves contradict congressional mandates to maintain U.S.-funded international broadcasting. The judge also criticized the Justice Department’s defense as evasive and inadequate during recent hearings.