Top Vaccine Scientist, Removed From Post, To File Whistleblower Complaint

There is a dispute raging over why Dr. Rick Bright, a top vaccine specialist was removed from his position as director of the government’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. And now his lawyers say he is filing a whistleblower complaint asking for an investigation into his termination. They are also asking that he remain in his position in the meantime. MSNBC’s Chris Hayes asked (watch above):

“Why would… Dr. Rick Bright, suddenly leave in the middle of the worst pandemic in a century to go to some other less important position in the government. Dr. Bright spent his entire career in vaccine development and was previously responsible for preparing the nation for influenza pandemics and coordinating production, acquisition, and delivery for medical countermeasures during a pandemic response. In fact, Congress just tripled his agency’s budget to work on coronacvirus projects. So he seems like someone you’d want to keep around in his position.”

But the New York Times reports Bright isn’t leaving quietly:

The doctor who led the federal agency involved in developing a coronavirus vaccine said on Wednesday that he was removed from his post after he pressed for rigorous vetting of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug embraced by President Trump as a coronavirus treatment.

In a statement, Richard Bright wrote:

“I am speaking out because to combat this deadly virus, science — not politics or cronyism — has to lead the way.”

“I have spent my entire career in vaccine development, in the government with CDC and BARDA and also in the biotechnology industry. My professional background has prepared me for a moment like this – to confront and defeat a deadly virus that threatens Americans and people around the globe. To this point, I have led the government’s efforts to invest in the best science available to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, this resulted in clashes with HHS political leadership, including criticism for my proactive efforts to invest early in vaccines and supplies critical to saving American lives.

I also resisted efforts to fund potentially dangerous drugs promoted by those with political connections Specifically, and contrary to misguided directives, I limited the broad use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, promoted by the Administration as a panacea, but which clearly lack scientific merit. While I am prepared to look at all options and to think ‘outside the box’ for effective treatments, I rightly resisted efforts to provide an unproven drug on demand to the American public. I insisted that these drugs be provided only to hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 while under the supervision of a physician. These drugs have potentially serious risks associated with them, including increased mortality observed in some recent studies in patients with COVID-19.

Sidelining me in the middle of this pandemic and placing politics and cronyism ahead of science puts lives at risk and stunts national efforts to safely and effectively address this urgent public health crisis.”

At the White House briefing Wednesday, Donald Trump claimed to have never heard of Bright saying “If the guy says he was pushed out of a job, maybe he was, maybe he wasn’t.” And according to Politico, there have been clashes between Bright and others in the health department for quite a while, “The move was more than a year in the making — Bright had clashed with department leaders about his decisions and the scope of his authority — but came abruptly, said five current and former HHS officials.”