MICHAEL CAPUTO
Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs
2020-2021
TOP TRUMP HEALTH SPOKESMAN DELETES TWITTER ACCOUNT AFTER RANT
September 14, 2020
"The Trump administration’s top health spokesman Michael Caputo appeared to have deleted his Twitter account after a late-night rant in which he suggested tear-gassing reporters and tangled with other users on the site."
"Caputo, in tweets from his Twitter-verified personal account, said “gas all of them” while commenting on a post from a self-described journalist who had published a video saying they were about to be tear-gassed. In a second tweet, Caputo described another Twitter using an epithet for a feminine hygiene product, adding 'you have four followers.'"
HHS OFFICIAL MICHAEL CAPUTO ADMITS WARNING OF 'SEDITION' AT CDC, RIOTS IF TRUMP WINS
September 15, 2020
"The longtime political strategist did not dispute that he said he believes there are scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who are trying to undermine President Trump and accused them of 'sedition.'"
"Caputo also raised the specter of violence if Trump wins the election, saying: 'The drills that you've seen are nothing. If you carry guns, buy ammunition, ladies and gentleman — because it's going to be hard to get.'"
TOP TRUMP HEALTH OFFICIAL TAKES MEDICAL LEAVE AFTER BIZARRE RANT ACCUSING SCIENTISTS OF 'SEDITION'
September 17, 2020
"Michael Caputo, 58, said in a statement that he was taking the temporary leave of absence "to pursue necessary screenings for a lymphatic issue discovered last week." (The HHS confirmed his temporary departure in a separate statement to PEOPLE and other news outlets.)"
"CNN reported that Caputo also apologized to other HHS staffers, though a source told the network he 'portrayed himself as a victim in his apology.'"
"In Caputo's original video, posted on Facebook Live and obtained by Yahoo! News, he amplified a number of conspiratorial claims already made by President Donald Trump. He also warned of an armed revolt against the government and encouraged people to buy ammunition."
EMAILS SHOW TOP HHS OFFICIAL AND TRUMP ALLY INTIMIDATING CDC OFFICIAL
September 18, 2020
"The emails show Michael Caputo, who served as the assistant secretary for public affairs at HHS until taking a leave of absence earlier this week, confronting a CDC spokesperson for responding to a question from CNN about a vaccine education campaign."
"'In what world did you think it was your job to announce an Administration public service announcement campaign to CNN?' Caputo said to the spokesperson on June 27, copying top agency officials on the email -- including Dr. Robert Redfield, the agency's director, who is tasked with leading the nation's health protection agency during the middle of a once-in-a-century pandemic."
"The emails are a part of a pattern showing Caputo's hostile attitude toward CDC officials. Earlier this week, Caputo announced he will take a two-month leave of absence from his post after apologizing for a conspiracy theory-laden rant he made against CDC scientists, alleging a 'resistance unit' within the department and accusing CDC officials of 'sedition.'"
TRUMP OFFICIALS ATTACKED CDC VIRUS REPORTS, HOUSE PANEL FINDS
December 21, 2020
"New York political operative and Trump loyalist Michael Caputo was installed as the department's top spokesman during a period of high tension between White House officials and Azar. Caputo brought health researcher Paul Alexander with him as an adviser. Both men have since left the agency.
But for months, the letter alleges, they waged a campaign to block or change articles on the COVID-19 pandemic in a CDC publication called the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, or MMWR, which is closely followed by the public health community."