Newly released diary entries from former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Dr. Anthony Fauci indicate he engaged in private discussions with his onetime senior adviser, David Morens, who has since been indicted for concealing and deleting federal records. Fauci had previously stated to Congress that he was unaware of Morens's actions.
In the diary entries, obtained and released by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Fauci wrote about arranging phone calls with Morens to "determine more details as to what is going on" concerning claims that Fauci had approved grants potentially linked to the creation of COVID-19. Fauci noted that these claims were being promoted by "far right grantees of NIAID" and individuals in Congress, whom he identified as Congressman Jim Jordan and Senator Rand Paul.
Fauci also wrote that Morens had heard that these groups were attempting to "bring me down" and that "I deliberately worked with the Chinese together with Peter Daszak to create a virus that would be released to the world."
During a House subcommittee hearing on June 3, 2024, Fauci testified that he had no knowledge of Morens's dealings with Dr. Daszak, EcoHealth, or his emails. Fauci also stated that Morens, despite his title, did not functionally serve as an adviser to him on institute policy or other substantive matters.
Other diary entries, however, show Fauci discussing the importance of "systemic vaccination" for the U.S. populace with Morens and Jeffery Taubenberger, who became acting NIAID head under President Trump. These conversations occurred around the same time that emails, first reported in May 2024, revealed Morens had engaged in "back channel" communications with Fauci and allegedly shared information about EcoHealth Alliance's $4 million grant, which included funding for the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
Morens wrote to EcoHealth President Peter Daszak on April 26, 2020, from a private account stating, "There are things I can’t say except Tony is aware and I have learned that there are ongoing efforts within NIH to steer this through with minimal damage to you, Peter, and colleagues, and to NIH and NIAID." He further indicated in an April 21, 2021, email that he could relay information to Fauci through private channels, writing, "He is too smart to let colleagues send him stuff that could cause trouble."
Fauci is scheduled to testify before Paul's Senate Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday. An attorney for Morens declined to comment, and Fauci's lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.