Whistleblower Bright Testifies Before House To Warn Of ‘Darkest Winter’ Approaching

TOPLINE

Dr. Rick Bright, a top vaccine doctor who was ousted from his job in April, plans to testify during a House hearing on Thursday that the virus could lead to “unprecedented illness and fatalities” if the U.S. doesn’t launch a coordinated national response.

KEY FACTS

Key background

Bright was removed from his position as director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority on April 21 and placed in a lesser role at the National Institutes of Health. He has alleged that his removal was in retaliation for refusing to invest federal funds in untested coronavirus treatments pushed by President Trump. White House officials have said BARDA’s lack of responsiveness to the pandemic in their focus on long-term solutions, rather than readily available treatments, was to blame for Bright’s demotion.

Further reading

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