A federal court has given the CIA the green light to remove a doctor who has come under criticism from some Trump supporters over her involvement in the coronavirus vaccine mandate for military personnel.
Dr. Terry Adirim sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the CIA from firing her from her position as head of the spy agency’s Center for Global Health Services, but U.S. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff denied her motion during a hearing on Friday. A judge appointed by Biden has also revoked an administrative stay that he ordered last week, which had prevented the dismissal of Adirim.
Adirim claimed that her firing was due to assaults by Trump’s most outspoken social media supporters, who had brought attention to her involvement with the COVID-19 program implemented under the Biden administration just before she was let off. Ivan Raiklin had openly branded her as the “architect” of the Pentagon’s “Jab Genocide Mandate” in his X writings, which she cited specifically.
Raikin allegedly encouraged noted pro-Trump activist Laura Loomer to urge Trump to dismiss Adirim, and Loomer transmitted this information to the president during an April meeting in the Oval Office, according to Adirim’s lawsuit, which cites “common sense” and evidence to be obtained via the case. Reporters were told by Raiklin, who was present at the session, that he had explicitly told Loomer to persuade Trump to terminate Adirim.
Kevin Carroll, Adirim’s attorney, also said that the CIA openly supported allegations that Adirim acted unlawfully or unethically when Donald Trump Jr. posted on X accepting her removal.
On the other hand, the CIA has categorically denied that it fired Adirim because of the public backlash she received. A number of CIA agents had lodged “multiple complaints” over Adirim’s behavior, which had raised concerns among agency officials, according to the agency.
The Justice Department claimed before the hearing that “there is no reason other than the close timing of Ms. Loomer’s White House visit and the CIA’s communication of its termination decision to Plaintiff to suggest the two are linked.”
Specifically addressing Friday’s tweet by the president’s son, Nachmanoff stated that it did not seem to provide proof that the CIA was slandering her. Judge Carroll stated that she lacked the evidence necessary to support a temporary restraining order that would have allowed her to remain employed. Judge did not state that he was passing judgment on the validity of Adirim’s lawsuit, as the attorney claims.
Speaking to reporters after Friday’s hearing, Raiklin stated that he and Loomer had no communication in the months leading up to Adirim’s dismissal.
Raiklin further stated that records show Adirim was involved in carrying out the Biden administration’s policy of requiring all military personnel to get a vaccine. He cited a document that Adirim had written on September 14, 2021, while he was the acting senior deputy assistant secretary of defense for health affairs. In the memo, Adirim directed healthcare providers to administer the vaccination requirement using Pfizer and Comirnaty vaccines.
Additionally, Raiklin brought attention to the fact that a top Pentagon officer had written a document on Wednesday describing the 2021 order as “unlawful as implemented.”
Raiklin denied rumors that someone had informed him about Adirim’s position at the CIA. Reminding him of her announcement last year on LinkedIn about “starting a new position as Senior Executive at US Federal Government!” he brought it up. He noted that individuals typically use that phrase while talking about their time at the CIA.