Fauci Solicited Nominations From NIH-Funded Scientists for a $1 Million Cash Prize For Himself, Emails Show

The former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci, solicited nominations for a $1 million prize — payable exclusively to him — from scientists whose research was funded by his agency, according to emails released by Senator Rand Paul.The emails, later made public by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, show that Mr. Fauci requested nominations for the Dan David Prize — a $1 million award affiliated with Tel Aviv University — from researchers who had received substantial NIH funding. “The Dan David prize that was deposited in my bank account was $899,960.00, not $901,400,” Dr. Fauci wrote in one email. The entire prize goes to the recipient, although the award sets aside 10 percent of the prize money for academic scholarships in each winner’s field. Mr. Fauci got to determine the nature of the scholarships. Among them was Dr. Charles Dinarello, a professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, who nominated Mr. Fauci for the prize in 2020, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Dr. Dinarello had received millions in NIAID funding prior to his nomination and received approximately $18 million more afterward, the emails show. Dr. Barton Haynes of Duke University, who had received more than $100 million in NIAID funding before 2019, also agreed to nominate Mr. Fauci for multiple prizes after Mr. Fauci personally requested the nominations. Dr. Haynes subsequently received more than $100 million in additional research funding.Dr. Fauci ultimately won the prize and NIH officials approved the payment after determining the prize qualified as a public-service award from a private foundation rather than a foreign government gift, clearing a potential constitutional hurdle. Upon approval, one NIH employee wrote, “At last!!!!!!!” while another said, “Congratulations….you’re rich!” Fauci aide Greg Folkers added, “I want my 15%.” the released emails show. Mr. Paul was sharply critical of the arrangement. “He wouldn’t be the first person in Washington that publicity went to his head,” the Kentucky Republican said. “He got a million-dollar prize, but we have conversations where he’s telling other people at the NIH to nominate him. Like, ‘Will you nominate me? I’ll write up my nominating background for you, and then you nominate me.’” Mr. Paul added in a statement: “The records raise the obvious question of a quid pro quo given the large amount of prize money at hand.”The Dan David Prize committee said it honored Mr. Fauci for his career in public health and “speaking truth to power” during the Covid-19 crisis.

Fauci Solicited Nominations From NIH-Funded Scientists for a $1 Million Cash Prize For Himself, Emails Show

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