"FDA Chief Spokesperson Removed After Convalescent Plasma Debacle"

"The Food and Drug Administration’s chief spokeswoman, who has been in the job less than two weeks, was removed from her role as of noon Friday, part of continued fallout from a White House news conference featuring inaccurate claims that convalescent plasma dramatically reduced mortality for patients with covid-19.

It remains unclear whether Emily Miller, who was assistant commissioner for media affairs, will remain at the agency in some capacity, said a senior administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly. Miller formerly worked for One America News, a conservative cable news network and for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.). She does not have a health or science background and has been a strong advocate for gun rights.

Also Friday, Wayne Pines, a longtime communications consultant, confirmed his contract to advise FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn on communications strategy has been terminated."

Laurie McGinley and Yasmeen Abutaleb report for the Washington Post August 28, 2020.

SEE ALSO:

"Inside Trump’s Pressure Campaign On Federal Scientists Over A Covid-19 Treatment" (Washington Post)

"F.D.A. ‘Grossly Misrepresented’ Blood Plasma Data, Scientists Say" (New York Times)

"Trump Has Launched An All-Out Attack On The FDA. Will Its Scientific Integrity Survive?" (STAT)

"Trump, Without Evidence, Accuses FDA Of Delaying Coronavirus Vaccine Trials And Pressures Agency Chief" (CNN)

"Alarm as FDA Willing To Issue Covid-19 Vaccine Before Stringent Safety Testing" (Guardian)

"Here’s How The U.S. Could Release a COVID-19 Vaccine Before The Election — And Why That Scares Some" (Science)

"FDA Chief Apologizes for COVID-19 Plasma Exaggeration — But Trump's Endgame Is Clear" (NBC News)

"Trump Pressures FDA, Says ‘Deep State’ Slowing Treatments" (Bloomberg)