DOJ Charges Scientists from Rocky Mountain Laboratory with Smuggling Monkeypox into the U.S.

U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy today released the following statement after the Department of Justice charged two researchers - Vincent Munster and Claude Kwe - from Rocky Mountain Laboratory (RML) in Hamilton, MT, with conspiracy to smuggle monkeypox into the United States and giving false statements to federal law enforcement.

The Justice Department's announcement comes a week after Senator Sheehy sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General T. March Bell concerning a whistleblower complaint alleging misconduct by RML and Dr. Munster. In the letter, Senator Sheehy urged thorough oversight of RML's safety, security, and personnel management practices, as well as NIH's protocols for employees under investigation.

"This announcement by DOJ is exactly why I called for the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate the security protocols at Rocky Mountain Laboratory. Allowing foreign nationals to smuggle dangerous viruses into the United States puts at risk the safety and wellbeing of the American people - and in this case, in particular hardworking Montanans. These two scientists lied to CBP and betrayed the public's trust, and I'm glad to see the Department of Justice taking action to hold them accountable. I will keep fighting to deliver the answers Montana families deserve," said Senator Sheehy.