Recent social media posts claiming the arrest of Monica Bertagnolli, Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), by the U.S. Navy's Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG) have been debunked as false. These claims stem from an article published on August 16, 2024, by Real Raw News, a website with a history of disseminating unfounded stories about military arrests of prominent figures.
The false narrative gained traction amid reports of a new, more infectious mpox virus strain spreading to countries outside Africa. As of August 22, 2024, cases were confirmed in Sweden and Thailand. However, this real health concern has been conflated with baseless claims about Bertagnolli's alleged involvement in a "second Plandemic" and attempts to influence the 2024 election through mail-in voting.
It's crucial to note that there is no evidence supporting these allegations. A thorough search of official records, including the Navy-Marine Corps Court Filings and Records and the U.S. Court Martial Public Record System, reveals no case against Bertagnolli. Furthermore, no credible news sources have reported on such an arrest.
The NIH, founded in 1887, is one of the world's foremost medical research centers, comprising 27 separate institutes and centers. As the director, Bertagnolli oversees an organization with a budget of approximately $47.5 billion for fiscal year 2024, employing about 20,000 people directly and supporting over 300,000 researchers worldwide.
The JAG Corps, established in 1967, provides legal services to the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. Its involvement in civilian arrests, especially of high-ranking government officials, would be highly unusual and subject to extensive legal scrutiny.
Real Raw News, the source of this misinformation, includes a disclaimer stating that its content contains "humor, parody, and satire." However, the website's track record of publishing false stories about high-profile arrests raises concerns about the intent behind such disclaimers.
"This website contains humor, parody, and satire... for our protection, on the advice on legal counsel."
It's worth noting that mail-in voting, mentioned in the false narrative, has been a part of U.S. elections since the Civil War, long predating current health concerns or election cycles.
As of August 26, 2024, neither the NIH nor the Office of the U.S. Secretary of Defense has commented on these false claims. The Reuters Fact Check team has conclusively labeled this story as false, continuing their efforts to address misinformation and unfounded reports circulating online.