Press Releases

Washington, D.C. - Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic Chairman Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) is continuing his investigation into a potential violation of federal record retention laws at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by a close ally of Dr. Anthony Fauci. In June, the Select Subcommittee requested key emails and phone records related to Senior Scientific Advisor Dr. David Morens' potential illegal destruction of COVID-19 related materials.

In response to Chairman Wenstrup’s actions, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) sent an official request to the NIH to open an investigation into Dr. Morens' troubling email practice of circumventing the Freedom of Information Act and his possible deletion of federal COVID-19 records. Concerningly, NIH has continued to stand by Dr. Morens and claims that its internal investigation found “no evidence that any federal records within their custody have been prematurely destroyed.”

Like many Americans, Select Subcommittee members are left with numerous unanswered questions and are skeptical of NIH’s response given the volume of incriminating evidence. As such, Chairman Wenstrup is requesting access to all of Dr. Morens’ communications acquired through the internal investigation, as well as any information relevant to specific investigative actions taken by the NIH.

“The Select Subcommittee found it very concerning that a senior U.S. scientist working on the COVID-19 pandemic was using his personal e-mail to purposely avoid transparency. As such, on June 29, 2023 we requested Dr. Morens produce a series of documents and communications, including text messages, regarding COVID-19…on July 10, 2023 the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) requested the National Institute of Health (NIH) investigate the allegations outlined in the Chairman’s letter. On August 9, 2023, NIH responded to NARA’s request by describing its investigative process and certifying that it had ‘completed an investigation of allegations of unauthorized disposition and certifies findings that . . . [it found] no evidence that any federal records within their custody have been prematurely destroyed’ (emphasis added),” wrote Chairman Wenstrup.

A full record of Dr. David Morens’ concerning emails can be found here.

Chairman Wenstrup’s letter to NIH Acting Director Lawrence Tabak can be here

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