Ex-Fauci Adviser Pleads Guilty to Plotting to Conceal COVID-19 Research Records A former senior adviser to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, has pleaded guilty to conspiring to conceal federal records related to research on the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. David Morens, 78, of Chester, Maryland, admitted to the charge during a court hearing on Tuesday, facing a potential maximum prison sentence of five years for the felony of conspiring to defraud the U.S. government. His sentencing is scheduled for November 12 before U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis in Greenbelt, Maryland. Morens, who served as a senior adviser at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), is accused of using his private email account to intentionally bypass public records laws while employed at the agency. The Justice Department alleges that he concealed or destroyed records of discussions related to COVID-19 research grants, including efforts to revive a controversial coronavirus grant. The indictment stems from a congressional investigation led by House Republicans into the origins of the pandemic, which scrutinized Morens’ email communications and accused him of deliberately hiding records. In congressional testimony, Morens denied attempting to evade federal transparency laws by using his personal email. However, the Justice Department’s case hinges on the claim that his actions violated public records requirements. The probe by House Republicans, which focused on the handling of pandemic-related research, led to the indictment. Morens’ defense attorney, Tim Belevetz, stated in a post-hearing statement that his client has taken responsibility for his actions and will continue to do so.#house_republicans #congressional_investigation #dr_anthony_fauci #dr_david_morens
Trump suffers rare defeat with House Republicans on FISA The House GOP revolt on FISA Friday marked a rare setback for President Trump with his own party, exposing the limits of his influence over House Republicans. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) faced a significant challenge as the White House and GOP leadership struggled to secure support for a clean extension of Section 702, a controversial national security tool. This failure highlighted the growing fractures within the Republican conference and the challenges of aligning diverse factions on contentious issues. The White House had pushed for a clean extension of the FISA program, which grants intelligence agencies broad surveillance powers. However, some of Trump’s closest allies resisted, citing longstanding concerns about privacy and oversight. Over two dozen Republicans voted against two procedural votes early Friday, a move that was previously uncommon for majority members but has become increasingly frequent in recent months. This resistance forced GOP leaders to fall back on a last-resort 10-day extension of the spy powers program. Efforts to secure support included an intense pressure campaign by the White House and GOP leadership. CIA Director John Ratcliffe addressed Republicans at their weekly meeting, and the administration held multiple briefings at the White House specifically for holdout lawmakers. A makeshift "SCIF" (Secure Compartmented Information Facility) was even set up off the House floor to streamline access to classified information during legislative strategy sessions. Despite these measures, the White House’s push failed to sway enough Republicans to support the clean extension.#trump #house_republicans #mike_johnson #john_ratcliffe #fisa
Republicans reportedly refer Cassidy Hutchinson to DOJ over Jan. 6 testimony House Republicans have directed the Justice Department to investigate Cassidy Hutchinson, a former aide to former President Donald Trump, over her testimony regarding the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. The referral, made by GOP Rep. Barry Loudermilk, centers on allegations that Hutchinson lied during her 2022 congressional testimony about Trump’s awareness of potential violence on January 6. Loudermilk accused her of fabricating claims that Trump knew of the risk of violence and continued to push his supporters toward confrontation. The referral follows a broader partisan effort by Republicans to challenge the narrative surrounding the Jan. 6 attack. Last Congress, GOP lawmakers established a separate investigative panel to counter the bipartisan Jan. 6 committee, but the effort was widely dismissed as ineffective. The panel, led by Loudermilk, released a report that failed to uncover new information or shift the narrative. Most Republicans and outside observers disregarded the findings, highlighting the panel’s lack of credibility. Hutchinson’s testimony in 2022 became a focal point of the Jan. 6 inquiry, as she described Trump’s behavior on the day of the attack. She alleged that Trump encouraged his supporters to confront lawmakers and that he was aware of the potential for violence. Her account was cited by investigators and became a key element in the case against Trump, though prosecutors later stated her testimony played a minimal role in their decision to charge him. Loudermilk’s referral to the DOJ appears to be part of an ongoing effort by Republicans to scrutinize Hutchinson’s past statements.#donald_trump #house_republicans #barry_loudermilk #cassidy_hutchinson #jan_6
