NIH official posted anti-Fauci comments on RedState website, retires after being ID’d

4years ago

US news.

Shortly after being identified, a public affairs official at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases announced his retirement over anti-Fauci comments he made to undermine the expert’s work.

A spokesperson for the health agency announced that the NIAID’s communications branch official, identified by internal sources as William Crews, will retire after being uncovered as the anonymous commenter that described Fauci as a “mask Nazi” on RedState.

The right-wing opinion website also considered wearing face masks as a “political statement” and used government time and equipment for his anti-Fauci activities.

“NAID first learned of this matter this morning, and Mr. Crews has informed us of his intention to retire,” an NIAID official told news outlets. “We have no further comments on this as it is a personnel matter.”

It was Lachlan Markay of The Daily Beast that first unveiled Crews’ identity using his public records, social media posts, and NIH records.

“It illustrates the extent to which the response to the pandemic has become deeply politicized, even within the agencies at the front lines of fighting it,” Markey stated.

“Crews isn’t just a civil servant anonymously disagreeing with his bosses online; he’s actively undermining their work and even suggesting retribution against them.”