Anthony Fauci allegedly ordered deletion of emails regarding gain-of-function research

Documents obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation reveal that Anthony Fauci instructed an aide to permanently delete an email exchange regarding warnings about risky viral research. The exchange involved a journalist's warning that gain-of-function research—experiments designed to make viruses more infectious or deadly—could cause a “doomsday” scenario and damage the reputation of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The records date back to approximately 2012, following a period of intense debate over gain-of-function research. In 2011, Dutch virologist Ron Fouchier used NIH funding to create an airborne strain of bird flu with a high estimated fatality rate. During this time, Fauci defended such research in a Washington Post editorial, arguing that manmade pandemic viruses were a “risk worth taking” to aid public health preparedness.

The new documents suggest Fauci may have destroyed public records, an act that violates federal law, despite previous sworn testimony stating he had not done so. Fauci did not respond to requests for comment regarding the findings.