A former senior adviser to Dr. Anthony Fauci has pleaded guilty to federal charges for intentionally evading public records laws. The aide, David Morens, conspired with others to hide communications related to the origins of COVID-19.
The guilty plea of a former Fauci aide highlights ongoing scrutiny into the handling of information and communications surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic's origins, potentially impacting public trust and future transparency regarding scientific research funding and policy.
David Morens, a former senior adviser to Dr. Anthony Fauci, has pleaded guilty to federal charges for intentionally evading public records laws. Fauci himself is not accused of any wrongdoing in the case and has stated he did not work closely with Morens.
According to a statement of facts Morens agreed to as part of his plea deal, he repeatedly consulted with an outside researcher, identified in court documents as "co-conspirator 1" but confirmed by congressional records to be Peter Daszak. Morens and Daszak, along with a second unnamed co-conspirator identified as Gerald Keusch, conspired to hide their communications regarding the origins of the coronavirus pandemic. They anticipated that their exchanges would be subject to Freedom of Information Act requests.
To conceal their communications, Morens, Daszak, and Keusch agreed to use Morens' personal Gmail account instead of his official NIH email. The court filings also indicate that Morens conspired with Keusch to help restore a grant for Daszak's research group, EcoHealth Alliance, after the National Institutes of Health (NIH) terminated it in 2020. The NIH's termination followed allegations that COVID-19 emerged from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which was researching coronaviruses through the grant.
Daszak and Keusch have not been charged with any crimes. Fauci has previously stated that he and Morens did not work together closely.