Judge Orders Kari Lake To Testify In VOA Lawsuit.

A federal judge has ordered Kari Lake, Senior Advisor for the U.S. Agency for Global Media, to testify under oath in ongoing litigation over her efforts to scale back Voice of America, the federally funded international broadcaster. U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth said that Lake, along with two aides, including political appointee Frank Wuco, must appear by Sept. 15 and provide detailed information withheld from the court about the agency’s operations and funding, NPR reports.

Lake has been sued in related cases by VOA’s director, senior executives, journalists, and press advocacy groups, who argue her actions violate congressional mandates requiring VOA to maintain its broadcasts. The lawsuit cites her firing of contract staff, placing full-time employees on paid leave, and reducing broadcasts from 49 languages to four.

During Monday’s hearing, Lamberth criticized the Justice Department’s defense for offering vague assurances rather than substantive responses. He also questioned Lake’s decision to pursue funding requests, personnel changes, and a controversial content-sharing deal with One America News Network without notifying the court.

During an appearance on Real America’s Voice Lake, citing a Trump executive order, Lake rejected the judge’s authority over her actions. Michael Velchik, a senior counsel for the U.S. Justice Department, echoed Lake’s stance in court, which Lamberth called “a hide-the-ball answer.”