Investigators Find Whistleblower Rick Bright Was Likely Retaliated Against, Lawyers Say

TOPLINE

The Office of Special Counsel believes White House whistleblower Rick Bright was likely retaliated against by the Trump administration, his lawyers said in a statement Friday, and the agency recommended that Bright be allowed to resume his previous job duties while his whistleblower complaint is investigated.

KEY FACTS

Crucial quote

“Dr. Bright should not be denied the right to have his complaint investigated fully and fairly before he is formally transferred to NIH — a move that will harm not only him, but the country as well,” Bright’s lawyers said in the statement. “We hope the Secretary will grant the Special Counsel’s request and allow Dr. Bright, one of the nation’s leading vaccine scientists, to return to his position leading BARDA and serving his country.”

key background

In mid-March, President Donald Trump and the White House began promoting chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine as possible treatments for COVID-19 after it was covered widely on Fox News and received attention in right-wing circles. But since there wasn’t any clinic trial data proving their effectiveness, the White House’s rush to make the drug available raised concerns in the scientific community.

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