Dr Rick Bright, who was formerly leading the federal government's coronavirus vaccine development, officially filed his whistleblower complaint on Tuesday. Bright reiterated that he believes he was removed from his post as the director of the Department of Health and Human Services' Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (and transferred to a "less impactful" position) because he refused to back President Trump's preferred, but unproven coronavirus treatment, hydroxychloroquine.
Additionally, Bright's complaint echoes other reports that members of the Trump administration received early warnings about the possibility that China's coronavirus outbreak could result in a pandemic. He singled out HHS Secretary Alex Azar as someone who resisted Bright's quest for resources to combat the virus' spread. But his allegations don't just revolve around COVID-19.
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Eventually, the complaint alleges, that led to "some discord" between Bright and HHS leadership that lasted until his recent removal. Read the full complaint here.
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