Investigating Alleged Conspiracy Within NIH Over FOIA Evasion and Confidential Information Handling

The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, chaired by Republican Representative Brad Wenstrup, has initiated an investigation into what it describes as a “potential conspiracy at the highest levels of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).” This inquiry follows allegations that encrypted private email accounts were used to share confidential information and that words were intentionally misspelled to evade the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. The investigation was spurred by testimony and the release of emails and documents from Dr. Anthony Fauci’s senior adviser, Dr. David Morens, suggesting evasion of public transparency regarding the COVID-19 pandemic response. Morens is accused of deleting government emails, seeking advice on FOIA protocol, and using his personal email for official business.
The controversy extends to communication practices within the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), led by Dr. Fauci during the pandemic, including using encrypted emails and intentional misspellings to avoid detection by FOIA searches. Additionally, EcoHealth Alliance and its president, Peter Daszak, are under scrutiny related to NIH grants, with allegations of bias and potential wrongdoing.
The subcommittee has sent letters seeking further information from NIH Director Dr. Monica Bertagnolli and National Archives and Records Administration Archivist Colleen Shogan. The letters outline concerns over the NIH’s handling of FOIA requests and the preservation of federal records. The investigation raises serious questions about transparency and accountability within the NIH and NIAID regarding the COVID-19 pandemic response.