Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is once again under scrutiny from Republicans. This comes after the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic reviewed emails from Dr. David Morens, who served as Fauci’s senior adviser.
The Republican Representative Brad Wenstrup, who heads the committee, claims that there is evidence suggesting Dr. Fauci’s involvement in a conspiracy at the highest levels of NIH to conceal official records pertaining to the origins of COVID-19.
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In a press release issued by the select subcommittee on Wednesday, it was revealed that the emails indicate that “Dr. Fauci was aware of Dr. Morens’ questionable actions and may have even been involved in potential violations of federal records.”
As the nation’s leading expert on infectious diseases, Dr. Fauci spearheaded the emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. However, he has faced criticism from some Republicans who claim that he did not fully disclose the origins of the virus and attempted to conceal the truth. These GOP leaders believe that the virus originated from a scientific laboratory in Wuhan, China, specifically the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV). This theory contrasts with the widely accepted belief in the scientific community that the virus was transmitted from species to species.
Chairman Wenstrup from the Subcommittee has initiated a comprehensive investigation into the origins of the virus, which has been ongoing for almost a year. Recently, the majority staff of the subcommittee released a 35-page memo that refers to numerous email correspondences obtained under subpoena from Morens. It is worth noting that Morens served as Fauci’s senior adviser from 1998 to 2022. In January, Fauci testified in a closed-door hearing, and he is scheduled to testify before the subcommittee on June 3.
According to the memo, Dr. Morens is accused of engaging in activities that undermine the operations of the U.S. government. The evidence suggests that he unlawfully deleted federal COVID-19 records, used a personal email to avoid the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and repeatedly acted in a manner unbecoming of a federal employee. The FOIA grants public access to records from federal agencies, with certain exceptions relating to national security, personal privacy, and other relevant considerations.
In an email dated April 21, 2021, Dr. Morens assured Dr. Peter Daszak, the president of EcoHealth Alliance, that there was no need to worry about Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. Morens suggested that he could either send the information to Tony through his private Gmail or deliver it to him personally at work or at his house. He expressed confidence in Tony’s ability to handle potentially troublesome material. A month later, Morens sent another email, copying Daszak, in which he recommended that Tony be interviewed directly and connected the person to their “secret” back channel. He informed them that Tony had been emailed a few hours earlier.
In other emails, Morens consistently urged individuals to contact him only via Gmail, with the condition that no other government employee be copied on a government address, as all government emails could potentially be subject to FOIA requests. In one email, Morens requested a kickback from Daszak for his assistance with an EcoHealth Alliance grant, and Daszak confirmed the existence of such a kickback. Furthermore, multiple emails reveal Morens making inappropriate and disrespectful remarks.
The committee expressed concerns in a press release about Dr. Fauci’s use of his private email address and the existence of a “secret” back channel. They raised serious questions about whether Dr. Fauci was involved in a conspiracy to conceal official records regarding the origins of COVID-19 within the highest levels of NIH. The emails also revealed instructions given to Morens on how to make emails disappear after they were requested under FOIA. Additionally, Dr. Fauci mentioned deleting most of the earlier emails after sending them to Gmail.
The subcommittee alleged in a press release on Wednesday that there is “overwhelming evidence” indicating that Morens was involved in serious misconduct and potentially illegal actions.
Tim Belevetz, the lawyer representing Morens, emphasized in an email to Newsweek that Dr. Morens has dedicated his career to public service. He has consistently focused on addressing urgent public health concerns by relying on scientific evidence and remaining independent from political influences.
In a recent article on TownHall.com, columnist and legal analyst Phil Holloway highlighted the actions of Dr. Fauci, stating that he deleted records and used secret back channels to avoid transparency. Holloway emphasized that those who were critical of Dr. Fauci’s actions were often dismissed as conspiracy theorists, but now their concerns have been vindicated.
Dr. Fauci faced criticism when it was revealed that the NIH, where he had been a prominent member for over three decades, granted $3.4 million to the U.S.-based organization EcoHealth Alliance in 2014. A portion of this funding, approximately $600,000, was then directed to the Wuhan Institute of Virology for the purpose of studying bat coronaviruses. As a result, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services decided to suspend funding to EcoHealth last week.
During the subcommittee hearing, Wenstrup began by presenting the panel’s findings outlined in the memo. In his opening remarks, the chairman emphasized that the select subcommittee is committed to preventing federal health officials from subverting our elected government in the future.
