US Drops Charges Against Doctor in Covid Vaccine Fraud Case

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In a significant development, US Attorney General Pam Bondi has ordered the dismissal of charges against Dr. Michael Kirk Moore Jr., a Utah plastic surgeon accused of destroying over $28,000 in government-provided COVID-19 vaccines, distributing fraudulent vaccination record cards to nearly 1,900 individuals, and administering saline injections to minors at their parents’ request instead of the vaccine. The decision, announced on Saturday, marks a shift in the handling of a case that had drawn considerable attention.

Dr. Moore, who pleaded not guilty to federal charges including conspiracy to defraud the United States and misuse of government property, was indicted by a grand jury in January 2023 under the Biden administration The accusations centered on his alleged distribution of approximately 1,937 fraudulent vaccination cards, reportedly obtained in exchange for cash payments or required “donations” to a charity linked to his practice, without administering actual vaccines. Prosecutors alleged that Dr. Moore administered saline injections to minors at their parents’ request, to make them believe they had received the COVID-19 vaccine.

The dismissal motion, filed by Acting U.S. Attorney for Utah Felice John Viti, cited the “interests of justice.” Bondi, in a statement on X, defended the decision by stating that Dr. Moore “gave his patients a choice when the federal government refused to do so,” and that he “did not deserve the years in prison he was facing.”Bondi credited Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and Senator Mike Lee for spotlighting the case and praised them as advocates for “ending the weaponization of government.” Senator Lee also expressed gratitude, thanking Bondi for “standing with the countless Americans who endured too many official lies, mandates, and lockdowns during COVID-19.”

The case implicated Dr. Moore’s business, the Plastic Surgery Institute of Utah, Inc., and three co-defendants, Kari Dee Burgoyne, Kristin Jackson Andersen, and Sandra Flores, with potential prison sentences of up to 35 years on charges including conspiracy and misuse of government property. According to prosecutors, the scheme deliberately undermined CDC vaccination efforts by falsely certifying individuals had received the COVID-19 vaccine when they had not, thereby eroding public health trust and compliance.

The decision to drop the charges comes amid broader national debates over vaccine mandates and individual choice. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who previously led the Children’s Health Defense organization, has been vocal in questioning vaccine safety, though he has stated he is not “anti-vax.” In recent statements, Kennedy has clarified his position, insisting he is not “anti-vax” and has no intention of “taking away anybody’s vaccines.”

The case has reignited debate over individual medical autonomy versus governmental public health enforcement. Supporters argue Dr. Moore’s actions were a response to patient skepticism over vaccine mandates, while critics contend the scheme endangered public health and compromised vaccine trust. The dismissal of the charges signals a potential recalibration of how such cases are approached, raising questions about the balance between personal freedom and regulatory enforcement.