Dr. David Morens (pictured above) was a senior advisor to the director at National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci. On Wednesday, the House Oversight Committee called him on the carpet to answer for emails that suggested he actively hid government documents from Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.
Committee chairman Dr. Brad Wenstrup of Ohio got right to the point:
Wenstrup: "Is that why you used your gmail instead of your official mail for communication with Peter?"
Morens: "That was for avoiding more embarrassment and danger to …"
Wenstrup: "And specifically, as your e-mails say, 'avoiding FOIA,' correct? "
Morens: "No … well, yeah, I guess you could say that."
For one of the few times, both Republicans and Democrats were on the same side, asking why important information like the origin of the virus or NIH funding of the research was allegedly hidden or deleted. Morens was evasive with Hawaii Democrat Jill Tokuda:
Tokuda: "You're admitting that you did official government business through your personal e-mail?"
Morens: "It depends on your definition of government …"
Tokuda: "From what you have heard today, would you consider that to be official government business?"
Morens: "I don't know."
Morens' testimony was riddled with contradictions and evasions … and apparently very poor memory. When Wenstrup confronted him with his own words admitting he mishandled official documents, Morens said it was all a joke:
Wenstrup: "You said she gave you advice on how to avoid …"
Morens: "That's what I said because I was sort of …"
Wenstrup: "So, you were lying then but you're telling us the truth now?"
Morens: "I wasn't lying. I was making a joke with Peter."
