Former Fauci Advisor David Morens Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Evade Records Requests

David Morens, once a senior official at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and advisor to Dr. Anthony Fauci, has admitted to conspiring to circumvent records requests tied to COVID-19 research. FBI Director Kash Patel announced the guilty plea on Tuesday, following an investigation.

Patel stated, “After an investigation with our DOJ partners, Dr. Fauci’s associate, David Morens, pleaded guilty to conspiracy related to efforts to avoid FOIA requests and the Federal Records Act concerning COVID-19 research grants.” The investigation revealed that Morens and co-conspirators plotted during the pandemic to defraud the United States government, particularly after the NIH terminated a key grant.

The National Institutes of Health stopped a grant titled ‘Understanding the Risk of Bat coronavirus Emergence’ due to allegations of the virus’s emergence from the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan, China. Morens and his collaborators allegedly agreed to conceal their correspondence by using Morens’s personal email instead of his official one.

In May 2026, David Morens was arraigned on charges, including conspiracy and destroying federal records, in Greenbelt, Maryland. This came after the U.S. Department of Justice indicted him, charging him with conspiracy and related offenses.

The investigation also showed that Morens had advised colleagues to bypass official communication channels. Emails acquired by the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic suggested Morens used his private email for sensitive communications.

Morens had written in an email, “Please send all replies to my Gmail… There are things I can’t say, but there are efforts within NIH to minimize damage.” He reportedly communicated similar instructions to EcoHealth Alliance President Peter Daszak. Following allegations surrounding funding for gain-of-function research on viruses in China, Daszak’s organization was barred from federal grants in 2025.

Upon sentencing on November 12, Morens may face a prison term of up to five years. His attorney, Timothy Belevetz, stated, “By pleading guilty, Dr. Morens has taken responsibility for his actions and will continue to do so,” as reported by NBC News.

Fox News Digital reached out to Morens’ attorney, the DOJ, and the NIAID for additional comments.