Fauci adviser David Morens indicted for concealing emails, avoiding records requests
David Morens, a former top official at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and adviser to Anthony Fauci, has been indicted on charges of concealing and falsifying records to avoid Freedom of Information Act requests related to the origins of SARS-CoV-2. The indictment alleges he used personal email accounts to hide communications with EcoHealth Alliance’s Peter Daszak and another scientist, aiming to influence the debate over the pandemic's origins. Morens is accused of taking kickbacks, including wine and meals, while working to restore lost grant funding. The case follows years of congressional investigations into federal pandemic response and virus origin research.
- ▪David Morens was indicted for allegedly concealing and falsifying records to evade FOIA requests during investigations into the origins of the COVID-19 virus.
- ▪The indictment claims Morens used personal email accounts to communicate with Peter Daszak of EcoHealth Alliance and a third scientist to avoid public disclosure.
- ▪Morens is accused of receiving kickbacks such as wine and fine dining offers in exchange for efforts to suppress information and restore grant funding.
- ▪Anthony Fauci is not named in the indictment and has denied any knowledge of or involvement in the use of private emails for government business.
- ▪The charges stem from a broader congressional probe into the handling of pandemic origins research, though no evidence of a lab leak was uncovered in the emails.
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Biotech Fauci adviser David Morens indicted on charges of concealing emails, avoiding records requests Charges come after lengthy congressional probes related to the origins of SARS-CoV-2 Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article David Morens, a former top National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases official, is sworn in during a House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic hearing in May 2024 in Washington.Andrew Harnik/Getty Images By Daniel Payne and Chelsea CirruzzoApril 28, 2026 Daniel Payne[email protected]Daniel Payne reports on how the health industry and Washington influence and impact each other. He joined STAT in 2025 after covering health care at POLITICO.
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