Former Fauci Adviser Pleads Guilty to Plotting to Conceal COVID-19 Research Records

GREENBELT, Md. — A former senior adviser to Dr. Anthony Fauci pleaded guilty Tuesday to participating in a scheme to conceal federal records involving research into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. David Morens, 78, admitted to conspiring to defraud the United States government. The felony carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis scheduled his sentencing for Nov. 12 in Greenbelt, Maryland.

“By pleading guilty today, Dr. Morens has taken responsibility for what he did, and he will continue to do so,” defense attorney Tim Belevetz said following the hearing.

Morens previously served as a senior adviser at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Prosecutors accused him of using a private email account to deliberately avoid federal public-records requirements.

According to the Justice Department, Morens concealed or destroyed communications concerning COVID-19 research funding, including discussions about efforts to revive a controversial coronavirus research grant.

The case followed a House Republican investigation into the origins of the pandemic. Lawmakers closely examined Morens’ emails and accused him of intentionally keeping government-related communications outside official channels.

During earlier congressional testimony, Morens denied that he had used his personal email account to evade federal transparency laws.

The guilty plea comes amid continuing congressional scrutiny of Fauci’s handling of the pandemic. In July, Fauci repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during a congressional hearing.

Fauci later declined a voluntary request to testify before another Senate panel. Republican members of the Senate Homeland Security Committee subsequently voted along party lines to hold him in contempt of Congress.

Fauci has not been charged in the criminal case against Morens.