USDA Reconsidering Sherrod’s Firing

Politico reports that Shirley Sherrod’s recent firing is being reviewed by the USDA:

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Wednesday that he will reconsider the abrupt firing of Shirley Sherrod, a Georgia-based Agriculture Department official who was the victim of a media frenzy over comments that turned out to have been distorted by video editing.

“I am of course willing and will conduct a thorough review and consider additional facts to ensure to the American people we are providing services in a fair and equitable manner,” Vilsack said in a statement e-mailed by USDA at 2:07 a.m.

A White House official said: “Not sure what the ultimate result will be, but it’s clear that with new information through the full speech, a longer look needed to be taken. The White House contacted the Department last night about the case and agreed, based on new evidence, that it should be reviewed.”

Vilsack issued his statement several hours after NAACP President Ben Jealous declared that the organization had been “snookered” into condemning the former official and urged Vilsack to reconsider.