The radio host who conducted the first interview with President Joe Biden after his shaky debate performance almost two weeks ago no longer works for WURD Radio, the outlet’s president said in a statement, after it was revealed she asked the president a series of predetermined questions provided by the White House in violation of the station's news policies.
First Lady Jill Biden, left, looks on as President Joe Biden speaks to supporters and volunteers on ... [+]
Sara M. Lomax, president and CEO of WURD Radio, said in a statement released Sunday that host Andrea Lawful-Sanders agreed to ask questions written by the White House without consulting the station's management, violating the practice of "remaining an independent media outlet accountable to our listeners."
Lomax said the station's earlier work with the administration was always done under the condition its journalists were "not constrained to their suggested topics or talking points" and accused the post-debate interview process of "de-legitimizing Black voices."
Lawful-Sanders told CNN on Saturday morning that the White House drafted and sent her questions to be asked of the president before the interview, and that she chose four from a list of eight questions.
Earl Ingram, who interviewed Biden the day after Lawful-Sanders for another radio station geared toward Black listeners, also told ABC News she was "given some questions for Biden."
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“WURD Radio is not a mouthpiece for the Biden or any other administration,” Lomax wrote, claiming “Ms. Lawful-Sanders and WURD Radio have mutually agreed to part ways.”
The Biden administration was criticized on two fronts for providing questions to be asked to the president following his debate performance. Some accused the White House of shielding Biden from having to face impromptu questions and others accused the administration of using and abusing Black media members when in crises. Lauren Hitt, a spokesperson for the Biden campaign, told CNN the interviews were not offered on the condition of acceptance of the questions. Hitt also told Axios that the White House director of Black media was not involved in the interview processes and that it was instead handled by the Biden campaign. "It was a campaign interview and not a White House one," Hitt said.
Biden, 81, has faced intense and ongoing scrutiny after he performed poorly in a debate against former President Donald Trump on June 27. The president appeared confused and had trouble communicating, leading the New York Times’ editorial board and leaders on both sides of the aisle to call for him to drop out of the race and give the nomination to a different Democrat. The WURD interview was his first following the debate. He admitted he had a "bad debate" and bolstered what he's done for Black Americans since he was elected.