White House Apologizes to Shirley Sherrod

It's still unclear whether she'll be back at work for USDA
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 21, 2010 2:07 PM CDT
White House Apologizes to Shirley Sherrod
Fatahma Odebe, left, joins a rally outside the Department of Agriculture building in Washington in Georgia Wednesday.   (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

The White House has apologized to Shirley Sherrod for its hasty firing of her over an out-of-context video. "Without a doubt, Miss Sherrod is owed an apology," said Robert Gibbs at his afternoon press conference. "I would do so on behalf of this administration." But will she be rehired at the USDA? Unclear. He said agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack is trying to reach Sherrod to personally apologize, "and they will talk about their next steps," reports Politico.

"I think, clearly, that a lot of people involved in the situation ... acted without all the facts," said Gibbs, who faced a lengthy grilling over the controversy. "A disservice was done. An apology is owed. That's what we've done." (More Shirley Sherrod stories.)

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