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New Email Shows Fauci Adviser Suggesting He Destroyed Records

SATURDAY, NOV 18, 2023 - 04:40 PM

A top deputy to Dr. Anthony Fauci indicated in a newly uncovered email that he purposefully did not keep records that he knew would be sought by the public and congressional investigators.

"I have retained very few emails or documents on these matters, and continue to request that correspondence on sensitive issues be sent to me at my gmail [sic] address," Dr. David Morens, the deputy, wrote in the June 17, 2021, missive.

Dr. Anthony Fauci in Washington on Dec. 9, 2022. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) obtained the email and included it in a letter to Health Secretary Xavier Becerra.

Dr. Morens wrote to colleagues after senators, including Mr. Johnson, wrote to then-National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Dr. Francis Collins asking for documents on how the NIH handled the COVID-19 pandemic, which started in a city that features a laboratory that ran risky tests with funds from the NIH.

"Based on this email, it appears that Dr. Morens may have intentionally deleted or destroyed records relating to the origins of COVID-19 given his admission that he has 'retained very few emails or documents on these matters," Mr. Johnson told Mr. Becerra. "Further, Dr. Morens' stated preference to receive correspondence on 'sensitive issues' through Gmail shows an apparent evasion of federal record keeping requirements and a complete disregard for transparency."

The Department of Health and Human Services, which includes the NIH, has repeatedly failed to hand over records that Mr. Johnson has requested, the senator noted. Dr. Morens' apparent actions "may have directly obstructed my oversight efforts," he wrote.

Analysis Result

Aspect

• Email from Dr. David Morens Opinion: Indicates possible destruction of records

Arousal

• 0.7

Sentiment

• Negative

Emotions

• Vigilance: 0.8 (The email suggests a heightened sense of caution or wariness regarding sensitive information handling.)
• Apprehension: 0.7 (There is an underlying tone of anxiety or fear about the potential implications of the email's content.)
• Annoyance: 0.6 (The text reflects irritation, particularly from the perspective of Senator Johnson regarding the handling of records.)

Mindset

• Paranoid: 0.8 (The email's content implies a distrustful or suspicious approach towards record keeping and public transparency.)
• Compulsive: 0.7 (There seems to be a focused and possibly rigid approach to managing sensitive information.)
• Neuroticism: 0.6 (The tone of the email and the reaction to it suggest underlying stress and emotional instability.)

Social

• Disunion: 0.8 (The email content and the response it has elicited indicate a breakdown in trust and cooperation.)
• Disengagement: 0.7 (There is an implied withdrawal or distancing from standard protocol or expected norms of transparency.)
• Disrespect: 0.6 (The actions implied by the email show a lack of regard for established rules and expectations.)

Cognitive Defense insights about text goals

• The text appears aimed at highlighting potential misconduct or negligence in record keeping related to sensitive information.
• It emphasizes a need for accountability and transparency in handling public health information.

Cognitive Defense insights about journalistic text effects on the reader's mind

• Readers may experience heightened suspicion or distrust towards public health officials and their handling of information.
• The text could evoke concern or anxiety about the integrity of public record keeping and transparency in government agencies.

Overall Guidance for reader's Cognitive Defense

• Approach the information critically, considering the context and potential biases in the presentation of facts.
• Seek additional, diverse sources to gain a more rounded understanding of the situation.
• Maintain a balanced perspective, avoiding jumping to conclusions without sufficient evidence.