this post was submitted on 30 Oct 2025

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Ousted Staffer Claims There’s a Coup Against RFK Jr. (newrepublic.com)

submitted 2 days ago by AcidiclyBasicGlitch@sh.itjust.works to c/news@lemmy.world

12 comments fedilink hide all child comments

A doctor who played a crucial role in Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s brash decision to cancel millions of dollars in mRNA vaccine funding was fired this weekend from the Department of Health and Human Services.

Dr. Steven J. Hatfill claims that his ouster as a senior adviser is part of a “coup” against Kennedy, adding that he believes that he is the first duck to fall as part of a “coup to overthrow Mr. Kennedy” led by the secretary’s current chief of staff, Matt Buckham. Hatfill hasn’t provided any evidence of a coup outside of his contentious ouster, and HHS dismisses his claims.

Hatfill’s hardcore MAHA alignment makes his ouster from RFK Jr.’s staff somewhat of a surprise. A department official told The New York Times that he was asked to resign for wrongly referring to himself as a chief medical officer and “not coordinating policy-making with leadership.” When he refused to resign, he was fired.

“Firing a staff member for cause does not add up to a coup,” the department official told the Times.

Hatfill, a bioweapons expert skeptical of Covid-19 vaccines, told Steve Bannon in an August interview that “it was more dangerous to take a vaccine than it was to contract Covid-19 and be hospitalized with it.” Hatfill also touted the use of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment option for Covid-19 despite Food and Drug Administration warnings against it.

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[–] AcidiclyBasicGlitch@sh.itjust.works 49 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (5 children)

It's so weird we're not seeing more news emphasizing exactly who this guy is.

Behind the Bastards just did a podcast about him a few weeks ago.

How The FBI Botched the 2001 Anthrax Scare

Hatfill was falsely accused of being the bioterrorist who sent out anthrax in letters mailed in the U.S. following 9/11. His career was destroyed, and he eventually sued the FBI for harassment and rightfully won.

Eventually the FBI claimed another scientist, Bruce Ivins was guilty. Allegedly when Ivins found out he was going to be arrested, he committed suicide. In a weird twist of fate, he overdosed on Tylenol.

There is some question if Ivins was actually guilty or if the FBI was being pressured to solve the case as quickly as possible.

https://www.propublica.org/article/new-evidence-disputes-case-against-bruce-e-ivins

Just to be clear, both of these guys seem like they were nuts, and shouldn't have been in the positions they were in, but crazy doesn't mean guilty. Hatfill was proven innocent and probably radicalized by the entire experience. Like it makes sense he would want to help Trump take over the government that tried to railroad him. Ivins was a hardcore creep, but if he wasn't guilty, that still leaves the question of who actually sent the anthrax letters?

[–] blave@lemmy.world 12 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

This is even more entertaining than it first appeared

[–] sittinonatoilet@sopuli.xyz 9 points 2 days ago

That’s the same dude? Crazy. I knew the name looked familiar.

[–] dethedrus@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 2 days ago

The shit they the FBI did to him was absolutely wild. And monstrously evil. Same with the Richard Jewell debacle.

[–] resipsaloquitur@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

It can only good happen!

[–] Tower@lemmy.zip 3 points 2 days ago

...he committed suicide. In a weird twist of fate, he overdosed on Tylenol.

OD'ing on Tylenol is a fucking terrible way to go.

[–] y0kai@anarchist.nexus 26 points 2 days ago (1 children)

lol i love that he says this like we should be concerned.

[–] FuglyDuck@lemmy.world 18 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Who’s replacing him? It’s hard to imagine someone who is worse, but I bet MAGA can.

[–] Davel23@fedia.io 4 points 2 days ago

They'll find a way to make the literal Black Plague Director of HHS.

[–] yesman@lemmy.world 6 points 2 days ago

collapsed inline media

[–] nondescripthandle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 2 days ago

Oh sweet, good luck boys

[–] gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 day ago

Uh… good…?

But also, I’m sure they’ll be able to find someone worse