WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- A broadcaster has filed suit in Washington against the Voice of America, claiming the U.S. government's broadcasting arm favors non-citizen hires.
Camille Grosdidier, a broadcaster with the VOA, said in the lawsuit that the agency's policy of favoring non-citizens has cost her at least two promotions that she was well qualified for, The Washington Times reported Monday.
Court records in the case reveal that federal rules allow the VOA to hire non-citizens but only "when qualified United States citizens are not available."
"This is not anti-immigrant or anti-non-citizen complaint ... but it's about forcing the VOA to comply with the law," said Leslie Alderman, a lawyer for Grosdidier. "The agency has to hire U.S. citizens in the particular circumstances when a suitably qualified candidate is available."
A VOA spokeswoman denied any wrongdoing on the part of the agency.
"Our goal is to serve U.S. taxpayers in the best way possible by hiring the best qualified applicants for the job to reach our worldwide audience with reliable news and information," spokeswoman Tish King told the Times.
