Vice President Mike Pence was unaware he had granted an interview to a controversial shock jock known for making racially tinged remarks.
The website TheWrap reported Monday night Pence had been scheduled to give the interview to Shara Fryer, a Houston-based radio host, though it ended up being host Michael Berry in her place.
“The Vice President conducted an interview on a highly-rated radio news station during an emergency situation to reach out to those who have been negatively impacted by Hurricane Harvey,” Pence spokesman Marc Lotter said, according to the report. “The interview was scheduled with Shara Fryer.”
The White House on Monday published the official transcript from the interview, which lasted about 11 minutes and was conducted by both Berry and Fryer. During the interview, Pence discussed the Trump administration’s relief response to the damage caused by Hurricane Harvey in Houston and the surrounding area.
Lotter declined to comment further on the issue when reached Tuesday by the Washington Examiner.
A White House official said in a separate statement that Pence’s team “did not know another host would also be participating” in the interview.
Berry has been criticized in the past for racially inflammatory comments and hosting a comedian who performed satirical black-face on air.
Pence gave several other radio interviews that day, including to Rush Limbaugh.
