US government whistleblower ‘demoted for warning about COVID-19’

A US government scientist has alleged he was ousted after he raised concerns about COVID-19 and a malaria drug pushed by Donald Trump.

Rick Bright, former director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, filed a whistleblower complaint which claims he was demoted after speaking out.

The complaint says he was pressured to allow widespread use of hydroxychloroquine, a malaria drug favoured by the US president despite a lack of evidence that it worked.

He claimed the Trump administration wanted to “flood” hotspots in New York and New Jersey with the drug, which had been imported from factories in Pakistan and India that had not been inspected by US regulators.

Mr Bright opposed the use of the drug and felt an urgent need to tell the public there was not scientific evidence to back up its use in coronavirus patients, the complaint states.