United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack publicly apologized to ousted USDA official Shirley Sherrod on Tuesday, expressing “deep regret,” and accepting “full responsibility,” for firing her based on comments she made at a recent NAACP event that were subsequently broadcast out of context on mulitple televison networks.
Vilsack said he had talked with Mrs. Sherrod, offered her a new job and discussed with her ways to “move forward.” Vilsack said that Sherrod indicated that she wanted time to think about it. Vilsack claimed that the White House had no part in ousting Sherrod, saying it was “my decision and mine alone.”
Vilsack said “it was a decision that I regret having made in haste.” In light of the history of civil rights claims against the USDA, Vilsack said his goal when he took over the department was “to close that chapter of history.” Vilsack said he has “learned a lot of lessons from this experience.”
By Philip Bunnell