Radio Free Asia auctions taxpayer-funded gear for pennies on-line

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A nonprofit information group that's funded solely by the U.S. government started promoting off a considerable amount of its gear on a public public sale web site – with many objects being offered for pennies on the greenback.

Radio Free Asia (RFA) receives about $60 million a 12 months from American taxpayers to produce news in Asia. The group mentioned it was suspending operations as a result of a lapse in funding throughout the federal government shutdown.

However whereas its web site went darkish, Fox Information found that RFA had quietly begun promoting off main parts of its costly broadcast gear, together with HD cameras, teleprompters, lenses and even workplace fridges.

Listings on a public public sale web site, Rasmus Auctions, present RFA-branded broadcast gear is being supplied at fireplace sale costs.

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A teleprompter was listed for 40 cents at Rasmus Auctions. (Rasmus Auctions)

Some high-definition cameras are on the market for lower than a greenback, teleprompters for ninety cents, skilled lenses for beneath a greenback and a fridge listed for simply twenty cents.

In whole, greater than a thousand items of kit have been supplied on the market, which has sparked outrage.

California Congressman Darrell Issa , who had been working to revive RFA’s funding, referred to as the web public sale a betrayal to American taxpayers.

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Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., attends the third day of the Republican Nationwide Conference on the Fiserv Discussion board on July 17, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Photographs)

"I’ve by no means seen such belligerence by a corporation that will get one hundred percent of its cash from the U.S. authorities," Issa mentioned. "Lenses you’d pay 1000's of {dollars} for are being offered for pennies. It’s clear they’re liquidating belongings out of spite."

When reached for remark, a spokesperson for Radio Free Asia blamed the Trump administration’s earlier finances cuts.

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RFA is promoting HD cameras for 10 cents. (Rasmus Auctions)

In addition they pointed on the shutdown for forcing the group to make tough monetary decisions.

"The Administration’s illegal termination and disruption of RFA’s well timed funding, adopted by an prolonged authorities shutdown, has compelled the corporate to drastically cut back operational prices to arrange for long-term success," the assertion learn.

"Shedding gear we are able to not use, whereas retaining key personnel and belongings, responsibly positions RFA to proceed editorial operations that maintain the Chinese language Communist Occasion and different authoritarian governments to account," RFA mentioned.

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A fridge was being auctioned for 10 cents at Rasmus Auctions. (Rasmus Auctions)

"Our plan going ahead is to construct again as soon as Congress and the Administration resolve our funding points," the assertion concluded.

Nevertheless, Kari Lake , Deputy Government on the U.S. Company for World Media, which oversees RFA, rapidly disputed these claims.

"All the pieces they mentioned was not true," Lake shot again.

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Kari Lake vowed to unravel what's going on at RFA.

"We're funding them. We’ve given them each single penny appropriated to them. Eighty cents for an HD digital camera? That’s a slap within the face to taxpayers," Lake mentioned.

In a letter to RFA despatched Thursday, Lake wrote: "The madness ends now. Be ready to open your doorways subsequent week for our group of auditors to seek out out what on earth is occurring at RFA, as permitted beneath the grant settlement and relevant laws."

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In additional feedback to Fox Information, RFA mentioned it hopes to restart its information operations if Congress restores its funding, and so they have sufficient gear to proceed to function if Congress decides to fund them transferring ahead.

Invoice Melugin serves as congressional correspondent for FOX Information Channel (FNC) primarily based in Washington, D.C. He joined the community in Could 2021.