Newly uncovered emails show Dr. Anthony Fauci instructed the deletion of sensitive communications regarding controversial gain-of-function research, raising questions about federal record-keeping violations.
| PULSE POINTS |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Newly obtained emails reveal Dr. Anthony Fauci instructed a subordinate to delete an email chain discussing controversial gain-of-function research, potentially violating federal record-keeping laws. The emails also show Fauci’s frustration over a journalist’s critical op-ed warning about the risks of such research, which Fauci dismissed as “off base.” 📺 DETAIL: The controversy stems from Fauci’s defense of funding research that made viruses more infectious or deadly, including a 2011 experiment that created an airborne strain of bird flu with a 50 percent fatality rate. Fauci opposed recommendations from biosecurity advisors against the research, arguing it was a “risk worth taking.” The emails also suggest that Fauci worked behind the scenes to ensure the full publication of the research despite biosecurity concerns. 🎯 IMPACT: The revelations raise serious questions about Fauci’s compliance with federal transparency laws and his role in promoting gain-of-function research despite its risks. The controversy also intersects with ongoing debates about the origins of COVID-19, as Fauci and other virologists worked to downplay the possibility of a lab leak. 💬 KEY QUOTE: “Please delete this e-mail and then delete from the deleted file.” – Dr. Anthony Fauci in a March 2012 email. 📺 FLASHBACK: Fauci has faced scrutiny over his involvement in gain-of-function research, including during Senate hearings in which Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) accused him of misleading the public about his role in funding such experiments. |
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