Former CDC Scientist Poul Thorsen

A former CDC scientist whose work was used to tell you vaccines don’t cause autism just pleaded guilty to fraud.

A man who stole taxpayer-funded research money and forged documents helped produce research Americans were told to trust without question. pic.twitter.com/kxBBGZYhVS

— Children’s Health Defense (@ChildrensHD) September 2, 2026

Poul Thorsen, a researcher behind one of the major studies used to dismiss a vaccine autism connection, just pleaded guilty to fraud.

He stole more than $1 million in CDC research funds, forged documents, and spent more than 14 years evading justice.

This is a man who… pic.twitter.com/pMg1FqO8OA

— MAHA Action (@MAHA_Action) September 2, 2026

… demonstrated absolutely no respect for honesty, integrity, or the public trust.

Yet his research helped underpin what Americans were repeatedly told was “settled science.”

That science deserves to be challenged and scrutinized all over again.