MWE Correspondent
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has dropped all charges against Dr. Michael Kirk Moore Jr., a Utah plastic surgeon accused of destroying over $28,000 worth of COVID-19 vaccines,
distributing thousands of fake CDC vaccination cards, and administering saline solution to children instead of actual vaccines—all allegedly done with the full knowledge and request of their parents.
The charges, brought under the administration of President Joe Biden in 2023, carried a potential sentence of up to 35 years in prison. But in a dramatic reversal, Attorney General Pam Bondi, who now heads the DOJ under a new administration, said Moore’s actions were not crimes—but acts of conscience during a time of national medical coercion.
Dr. Moore and three co-defendants were indicted on multiple charges, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, destruction of federal property, and the creation of fraudulent COVID-19 documents. According to the original indictment, they were accused of destroying nearly 2,000 doses of vaccines provided under the Operation Warp Speed initiative, a program launched to accelerate vaccine distribution during the pandemic.
Some of Moore’s patients allegedly received saline injections instead of the vaccine, while being issued false vaccination records. Prosecutors claimed this was part of a scheme to appease anti-vaccine parents who didn’t want to risk legal or workplace penalties but still needed to appear compliant.
In her announcement on X (formerly Twitter), Bondi defended the decision to drop the case, calling Dr. Moore a “brave man” who stood for medical freedom when it was under attack. She argued that the federal government had failed to provide adequate medical choice during the pandemic and that Moore had stepped in to offer alternatives for concerned families.
Her statement echoed sentiments shared by vaccine skeptics and certain members of the conservative political spectrum, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Sen. Mike Lee, who praised the dismissal as a victory against federal overreach.
Critics, however, see the move as deeply troubling. Public health experts warn it sets a dangerous precedent and undermines trust in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which has played a leading role in vaccine distribution and pandemic response. Some former DOJ officials accused Bondi of politicizing the justice system, a charge she denies.
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Dr. Moore’s legal team welcomed the decision, claiming their client was being targeted for political reasons. “Dr. Moore was never in this for personal gain,” his attorney said in a statement. “He was standing up for patient autonomy.”
While Moore and one co-defendant, Kristin Jackson Andersen, had their charges dropped, two others in the case had already pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Legal experts are now questioning whether their convictions may also be challenged or overturned, depending on how the DOJ proceeds.
The motion to dismiss Moore’s case has been filed, but it will still need formal approval from the judge overseeing the trial. If granted, the trial will be over—and Moore will walk free.
This high-profile dismissal is being seen as part of a broader political and legal realignment around how the U.S. government approaches issues like public health mandates, vaccine distribution, and individual liberty. It also raises questions about whether other COVID-era prosecutions could be revisited or reversed under the current DOJ leadership.
Recent moves, including the cancellation of a $766 million bird flu vaccine contract with Moderna, signal a broader shift away from federal reliance on pharmaceutical intervention.
