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(NewsNation) — Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, erstwhile manager of the CDC’s Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said helium resigned past week due to the fact that determination was “no mode to support the integrity" of the agency.
"The Hippocratic Oath is first, bash nary harm. So, I couldn't enactment determination and bash harm. And you know, erstwhile I spot the weaponization of nationalist wellness ... each that I could spot successful my way guardant was to beryllium compelled to bash harm. I couldn't enactment there," helium said Friday connected "Morning successful America."
Daskalakis, on with astatine slightest 3 different bureau leaders, resigned successful protestation aft Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. removed Susan Monarez from her relation arsenic manager of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Monarez's firing came aft the Food and Drug Administration restricted entree to the COVID-19 vaccine.
While Kennedy has maintained Monarez was dishonorable and lied successful an op-ed explaining her departure, Daskalakis said she was "cut retired of the process" for determining vaccine policy.
Daskalakis said Kennedy staffed the section with "people who were conscionable chiefly ideologic copies" of himself — and erstwhile Monarez left, helium felt the "game was up. No mode to support the integrity."
More than 1,000 existent and erstwhile HHS employees signed a letter this week demanding Kennedy's resignation and accusing him of “compromising the wellness of the nation."
Daskalakis has go a blimpish people since his departure, with Kennedy connected Thursday saying helium and others who resigned deserved to beryllium fired.
Earlier this week, Rand Paul said Daskalakis — an openly cheery antheral — had "no concern being successful government" owed to his "lifestyle."
Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., has besides criticized Daskalakis for his idiosyncratic life, calling him a “BDSM Satan worshipper” connected CNN implicit the weekend. In 2021, Daskalakis posed for the screen of Plus Magazine wearing a leather harness.
The Hill contributed to this report.
