A longtime senior adviser to Dr. Anthony Fauci is now facing federal charges, with prosecutors accusing him of secretly using private email accounts during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep key discussions out of public view.
David M. Morens, 78, who spent years as a top official inside the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was indicted in a case unsealed Tuesday. The Justice Department alleges he used a personal email to dodge federal transparency rules and keep sensitive communications beyond the reach of Freedom of Information Act requests.
According to the indictment, Morens worked with others during the pandemic to conceal discussions tied to a controversial coronavirus research grant involving China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology. That grant was ultimately shut down as questions mounted over whether the virus may have originated from a lab.
Prosecutors say Morens and his associates intentionally shifted conversations off of official government systems, relying instead on private accounts to avoid public disclosure. Those exchanges allegedly covered internal debates over COVID research, funding decisions, and efforts to shape messaging about where the virus came from.
Dr. Anthony Fauci in 2022
The indictment also claims Morens acted as a behind-the-scenes conduit, passing information up the chain to senior officials who then briefed the White House, Congress, and the public.
Federal authorities further allege Morens accepted gifts from a collaborator, including wine and offers of expensive meals, and later attempted to justify those perks by contributing to a scientific paper backing the theory that COVID-19 emerged naturally rather than from a lab.
Morens did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson for the National Institutes of Health also did not immediately respond.
He had already drawn scrutiny from House lawmakers over his pandemic-era emails. During congressional testimony, Morens said he regretted the tone of some messages and described certain remarks as “black humor.”
The charges include conspiracy, destruction, and concealment of federal records, as well as related offenses. If convicted, Morens could face decades behind bars.
The case is expected to renew intense focus on how federal health officials handled critical questions during the pandemic, especially the ongoing debate over the origins of COVID-19.
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