Ex-Anthony Fauci adviser David Morens pleads guilty to concealing Covid-19 research records

GREENBELT, MARYLAND: A longtime aide to former NIH director Anthony Fauci, David Morens on Tuesday, August 18, pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge stemming from efforts to conceal government records related to COVID-19 research grants. 

Morens admitted using his personal Gmail account to conduct government business and hide communications from public-records requests. The 78-year-old former official faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, after his sentencing in November. 

David Morens admits concealing records tied to COVID-19 research

Morens entered his guilty plea in federal court in Greenbelt, Maryland, to conspiracy to commit offenses and defraud the United States. Under the plea agreement, he admitted that between April 2020 and June 2023, he conspired with two others to obstruct the lawful functions of federal agencies responsible for complying with the Freedom of Information Act and Federal Records Act.

Morens claims he used his personal Gmail account to conduct government business after the NIH terminated a grant involving the coronavirus research. The communications included non-public NIH information, discussions about efforts to restore funding for EcoHealth Alliance and drafts of correspondence to NIH officials.

Morens also admitted to working behind the scenes with outside researcher Peter Daszak, who is identified in court documents as “co-conspirator 1.” The records say Morens and Daszak exchanged information and prepared material that was ultimately communicated to a senior NIAID official identified in the filings as “Senior NIAID Official 1.” Records released through congressional investigations identify that official as Fauci.

Morens further admitted accepting illegal gratuities from Daszak, including two bottles of wine delivered to his Maryland home. The statement of facts also states that Daszak referred to the gifts as payment for Morens’ “behind-the-scenes shenanigans.”

His defense attorney, Timothy Belevetz, said in an emailed statement that “by pleading guilty today, Dr Morens has taken responsibility for what he did, and he will continue to do so.”

Plea comes amid renewed scrutiny of Anthony Fauci and Covid research

Morens’ guilty plea comes less than two weeks after Fauci was held in contempt by the Senate Homeland Security Committee after he refused to answer questions about his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Fauci is not charged with or accused of wrongdoing in Morens’ case and is not referred to by name in court filings. At a 2024 House hearing, Fauci said he knew nothing about Morens’ communications involving Daszak and EcoHealth Alliance, saying, “I knew nothing of Dr Morens’s actions regarding Dr Daszak, EcoHealth, or his emails.”

However, diary entries released by Senator Rand Paul last month dispute that claim, as it indicates that Fauci did have many private discussions with Morens regarding the research grants.

Republicans, including Paul, have repeatedly questioned whether the research was connected to the origins of the pandemic, while Fauci has rejected accusations that he concealed a potential lab leak. After Morens’ guilty plea, FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau’s investigation “remains ongoing.” Patel added, “No one is above the law.”