NEW YORK — A lawyer for PBS resigned Tuesday after being caught describing President Donald Trump as “close to Hitler” in a right-wing sting operation.
Michael Beller, a contracts lawyer in PBS' general counsel office, was recorded offering political opinions in what appeared to be a barroom conversation with a woman. It was released Tuesday by Project Veritas, a conservative group known for using undercover methods to reveal supposed liberal bias.
Beller is heard saying it was “great" that coronavirus cases were spiking in red states because they might infect Trump voters and suggested Republican voters should have their children put in re-education camps.
The lawyer did not speak on behalf of PBS or make any editorial decisions, PBS spokesman Jeremy Gaines said.
“There is no place for hateful rhetoric at PBS, and this individual's views in no way reflect our values or opinions,” he said.
Efforts to reach Beller were unsuccessful.
The Associated Press