White House: Vilsack contacting USDA worker to apologize for forced ouster over racial remarks

Vilsack to apologize to ousted Agriculture worker

WASHINGTON — The White House says Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is reaching out to a black employee to apologize on behalf of the “entire administration” for forcing her ouster because of her remarks on race.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Wednesday that Vilsack had been unable to reach Shirley Sherrod so far. Sherrod was asked by department officials to resign on Monday after conservative bloggers posted an edited video of her saying she didn’t initially give a white farmer as much help as she could have 24 years ago. Sherrod says the video distorted her full speech.

The White House called the Agriculture Department about the case Tuesday night and it was agreed that her ouster should be reviewed based on new evidence. Gibbs says the administration acted without knowing all the facts.