U.S. Rep. James Comer representing Kentucky's 1st Congressional District | Official U.S. House headshot
U.S. Rep. James Comer representing Kentucky's 1st Congressional District | Official U.S. House headshot
Margaret Moore, a lead staffer in the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) office, has been subpoenaed by the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic. Chairman Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) announced that Moore, known as the NIH's "FOIA Lady," is required to appear for a deposition on October 4, 2024. The subpoena comes amid allegations that Moore taught officials at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) how to evade FOIA requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Documents suggest that Moore was involved in advising NIAID officials on methods to avoid public transparency. According to Wenstrup, Moore’s counsel has indicated she plans to invoke her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during the deposition.
Earlier this year, evidence was released by the Select Subcommittee implicating Dr. David Morens, Senior Advisor at NIAID to Dr. Anthony Fauci, in deleting federal COVID-19 records and using his personal email account to evade FOIA requirements. In emails from his personal account, Morens mentioned learning tricks from "an old friend, Marg Moore," who allegedly instructed him on making emails disappear.
The email correspondence raises serious questions about Moore’s involvement in potentially larger efforts to conceal information from the public. Despite attempts by the Select Subcommittee to secure voluntary testimony from Moore, she has reportedly resisted and delayed their investigation.
Wenstrup stated: “Instead of using NIH’s FOIA office to provide the transparency and accountability that the American people deserve, it appears that ‘FOIA Lady’ Margaret Moore assisted efforts to evade federal record keeping laws. Her alleged scheme to help NIH officials delete COVID-19 records and use their personal emails to avoid FOIA is appalling and deserves a thorough investigation."
He added that holding Moore accountable is essential for addressing issues of accountability and transparency within federal agencies: "The Select Subcommittee is working tirelessly to ensure that federal health officials are never again unaccountable to the American people nor feel empowered to willfully undermine our elected government.”
The subcommittee’s cover letter and subpoena issued to Margaret Moore can be read through provided links.
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