ELIZABETH ROBBINS
Deputy Director, Voice of America
2020-2021
WHISTLEBLOWERS DEMAND VOA DIRECTOR RESIGN OVER POMPEO SPEECH, STAFF MOVES
A statement shared publicly Thursday accuses director Robert Reilly and his deputy director, Elizabeth Robbins, of violating VOA’s journalistic code by giving a senior government official “a free platform to speak live on our channels” by arranging a live broadcast of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and then removing VOA’s White House correspondent after she tried to question the outgoing secretary.
January 14, 2021
NEW CHIEF'S TIES SHOCK RADIO FREE ASIA, WHILE POMPEO VISIT TO VOA STIRS OUTCRY
Reilly and Deputy Director Elizabeth Robbins had used the network "to stage a propaganda event for U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo," the journalists wrote.
January 15, 2021
TRUMP ALLY AT VOICE OF AMERICA REPLACED BY NEWS EXECUTIVE HE RECENTLY DEMOTED
Reporter Patsy Widakuswara, who was demoted twice in 24 hours after the incident, approached Pompeo after he made a formal address and then shared the stage with Reilly at an event held at VOA's headquarters in Washington. She then challenged Reilly over failing to ask Pompeo any questions about the siege of Congress by a pro-Trump mob. Reilly barked at Widakuswara, "You obviously don't know how to behave." It then fell to Robbins, who had previously worked for Pompeo at the State Department, to tell the reporter she was done.
January 21, 2021
TRUMP ALLIES DISMISSED AT VOA AS BIDEN ADMINISTRATION NAMES NEW LEADERSHIP
Even after Joe Biden was sworn in as president on Wednesday, Robbins and another former Trump administration political appointee at the agency, John Jaggers, continued efforts to try to fire several employees on Thursday, according to David Seide, a lawyer representing the employees.
The two pushed to remove the staff members even though the Biden administration had issued instructions to suspend any personnel actions or proceedings at VOA and other networks.
January 22, 2021