DOJ prosecutes single FOIA dodger while defending systemwide evasion
Former NIH official David Morens has pleaded guilty to obstructing FOIA compliance by deleting emails related to COVID-19 origins. The author argues that while this prosecution is warranted, it highlights hypocrisy given the government's broader systemic evasion of transparency laws.
Why it matters
The case raises critical questions about government accountability, the enforcement of transparency laws, and the potential for selective prosecution in high-level political circles.
Copy link Email Bluesky X/Twitter WhatsApp Telegram Reddit Mastodon LinkedIn Facebook Print More options DOJ prosecutes single FOIA dodger while defending systemwide evasion Aug. 23, 2026 / Lauren Harper David Morens is now the first FOIA felon. The ex-adviser to Anthony Fauci, seen testifying in Congress in 2024, admitted to obstruction for deleting emails related to the origins of COVID-19. Is pursuing one bad FOIA actor enough to fix a broken system? C-SPAN Dear Friend of Press Freedom,
I’m Lauren Harper, the first Daniel Ellsberg chair on government secrecy at Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF), and welcome to The Classifieds. Read on to learn about the week’s top secrecy news.
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