Statement by plaintiff in Widakuswara v. Lake

Lead plaintiff says Lake moves VOA toward administration ‘mouthpiece’

By Patsy Widakuswara, lead plaintiff in Widakuswara v. Lake

July 19, 2025

Kari Lake’s decision to publish White House handout material without providing context or balance brings VOA a step closer towards becoming nothing but the administration’s mouthpiece. It is a betrayal of our legally mandated editorial independence and an insult to the journalistic integrity of those of us who covered U.S. administrations since our inception in 1942.