Senator Ron Johnson is demanding a federal investigation after a CDC official allegedly deleted critical COVID-19 vaccine safety records, raising concerns about transparency and potential violations of federal recordkeeping laws.

At a Glance

• Sen. Ron Johnson has accused CDC’s Dr. Tom Shimabukuro of potentially deleting or mishandling critical COVID-19 vaccine safety records
• HHS officials informed Johnson that Shimabukuro’s records “remain lost and, potentially, removed from HHS’s email system altogether”
• Johnson has called for an investigation by the FBI, DOJ, and HHS Inspector General into possible violations of the Federal Records Act
• The allegations follow a broader pattern of recordkeeping concerns, including similar issues with NIH adviser Dr. David Morens
• Johnson warned that obstruction of his investigative efforts could result in contempt of Congress charges

Missing Records Trigger Call for Federal Investigation

Senator Ron Johnson has formally requested that the FBI, Department of Justice, and Health and Human Services Inspector General investigate CDC official Dr. Tom Shimabukuro for potentially deleting crucial records related to COVID-19 vaccine safety monitoring. The allegations surfaced after HHS struggled to produce documents in response to a January subpoena, revealing concerning gaps in Shimabukuro’s email records that Johnson believes may indicate intentional destruction of federal records.

In a Wednesday letter to federal authorities, Johnson wrote that “HHS officials recently informed me that Dr. Shimabukuro’s records remain lost and, potentially, removed from HHS’s email system altogether.” The Wisconsin Republican emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that “Dr. Shimabukuro’s potential mishandling of his official records is highly concerning.”

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Potential Violation of Federal Records Act

The Federal Records Act requires government officials to preserve materials related to public business. Johnson’s concerns about Shimabukuro are particularly significant given the doctor’s role in monitoring adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines. The senator had previously requested that HHS, CDC, and FDA preserve all records related to COVID-19 vaccine development, safety, and efficacy, making the missing documents even more problematic from an oversight perspective.

“Based on recent information I have received … it is clear that CDC abused its authority by engaging in a censorship campaign to suppress and discredit certain viewpoints it labeled as ‘misinformation,'” Johnson stated in a previous communication regarding CDC practices.

Johnson issued a stern warning in his letter to officials, stating: “Any attempt to obstruct or interfere with my investigatory efforts would be grounds for contempt of Congress.” This escalation indicates the seriousness with which he views the potential destruction of federal records related to vaccine safety monitoring.

Pattern of Questionable Recordkeeping Practices

The allegations against Dr. Shimabukuro come amid broader concerns about federal agency compliance with recordkeeping requirements. Johnson pointed to recent revelations about NIH senior adviser Dr. David Morens, who allegedly instructed colleagues to contact him via Gmail rather than official channels and sought guidance on avoiding records requests. These parallel situations suggest what Johnson characterizes as a potentially systemic issue within HHS agencies.

“VAERS is not designed to determine if a vaccine caused a health problem but is especially useful for detecting unusual or unexpected patterns of adverse event reporting that might indicate a possible safety problem with a vaccine,” Johnson noted, highlighting the importance of transparent data collection and retention regarding vaccine safety.

Johnson’s investigation also touches on his previous accusations that the CDC coordinated with social media companies to suppress certain viewpoints on COVID-19 vaccines. In August 2023, Johnson claimed the CDC had “communicated with social media companies, including Twitter, about ‘COVID Vaccine Misinformation,'” and set a September 11 deadline for the agency to provide related documents. The current allegations regarding missing records may further complicate these ongoing oversight efforts.