The Chester, MD, native, whose biography you can find here, has been charged with conspiracy against the United States; destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in federal investigations; concealment, removal, or mutilation of records; and aiding and abetting, the US Justice Department said in a press release.
Morens, who served as a senior advisor in the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)'s Office of the Director from 2006 through 2022, counseled a senior NIAID employee and other staff members on policy and was tasked with developing recommendations and solutions to address issues affecting the National Institutes of Health (NIH), investigators said. Among those tasks was writing and editing manuscripts.
The indictment alleges that Morens and several others conspired during the pandemic to defraud and commit offenses against the United States after NIH terminated the grant "Understanding the Risk of Bat Coronavirus Emergence" (bat coronavirus grant), based on allegations that COVID-19 emerged from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) in Wuhan, China.
Morens then pledged with others to help reverse the termination, using his personal Gmail account to exchange non-public information, prosecutors claim. The indictment further alleges that Morens and others anticipated their communications could be requested through the Freedom of Information Act and agreed to hide them from public view, federal prosecutors said.
The group used the account to exchange non-public NIH information, discuss efforts to influence funding decisions, and share drafts of letters intended for NIH leadership, all while “back-channeling” information to senior officials, investigators said. Those communications were federal records that should have been maintained on government systems, federal officials allege.
Morens is also accused of receiving gifts tied to his actions, including wine sent to his Maryland home, described in the indictment as his “behind-the-scenes shenanigans,” according to prosecutors. In exchange, Morens identified an official act he could perform to “deserve” the gift, including contributing to a scientific commentary supporting the theory that COVID-19 had natural origins, the DOJ alleges.
Additional perks were discussed, including meals at Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris, New York, and Washington, DC, authorities said.
If convicted, Morens faces up to five years in prison for conspiracy, up to 20 years for each count of falsifying records, and up to three years for each count related to the concealment or destruction of records.
“When public officials deliberately circumvent the law to hide their communications from the public, they undermine the public’s trust and the integrity of our institutions," US Attorney Kelly O. Hayes added. This was especially true during the COVID-19 pandemic when transparency was needed most.”
Click here to follow Daily Voice and receive free news updates.
