Justice has taken a surprising turn in Utah with the Department of Justice dropping charges against a doctor accused of tossing out COVID vaccines and handing out fake cards.
The Hill reported that the DOJ, under Attorney General Pam Bondi, dismissed all accusations against Dr. Michael Kirk Moore Jr. on Saturday, ending a contentious case that had conservatives cheering and critics of federal overreach breathing a sigh of relief.
Let’s rewind to January 2023, when Dr. Moore and three associates were indicted by a federal grand jury.
The accusations were heavy: discarding over $28,000 in government-provided COVID-19 vaccines and allegedly profiting from nearly 2,000 fraudulent vaccination cards. It was a bombshell that painted them as orchestrators of a major fraud scheme.
The indictment didn’t stop there—it claimed Moore and his team even administered saline shots to children at parents’ requests, tricking the kids into thinking they’d been vaccinated. If true, it’s a gut punch to trust in medical ethics. But was this a crime or a desperate act of choice in a time of government mandates?
Fast forward to just a week ago, when the trial kicked off in Salt Lake City. The courtroom drama was poised to be a lightning rod for debate, especially among conservatives who saw the charges as a classic case of federal overreach by the prior administration.
Then, on Saturday, the bombshell dropped—Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the dismissal of all charges against Dr. Moore.
“At my direction @TheJusticeDept has dismissed charges against Dr. Kirk Moore,” Bondi declared. Well, that’s a mic drop if there ever was one, but it begs the question: why now, after so much buildup?
Bondi didn’t hold back, stating, “Dr. Moore gave his patients a choice when the federal government refused to do so.” That’s a bold defense of individual freedom over bureaucratic mandates, and it’s hard not to nod along when you consider how heavy-handed some COVID policies felt.
Still, critics might argue that discarding vaccines isn’t exactly “choice”—it’s the destruction of public resources. She added, “He did not deserve the years in prison he was facing.”
Prison time for a doctor who didn’t harm patients directly does seem like a stretch. This dismissal has turned into a rallying cry for many in the GOP, who’ve long criticized the Biden administration’s approach as totalitarian.
The case became a symbol of what they see as government weaponization, and Bondi gave props to key supporters like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Sen. Mike Lee for their advocacy.
Speaking of Greene, she was quick to cheer, calling Moore “a hero who refused to inject his patients with a government mandated unsafe vaccine!” That’s a fiery take, and while it resonates with those skeptical of mandates, it sidesteps the reality that vaccines saved countless lives. Hyperbole aside, her passion for personal freedom strikes a chord with many.
Greene also warned, “We can never again allow our government to turn tyrannical under our watch.” It’s a powerful soundbite, tapping into deep distrust of federal overreach. Yet, one wonders if this energy could be better spent on constructive policy reform rather than just rallying cries.
She praised Bondi’s swift action, saying, “Thankfully, as soon as I told Pam Bondi about Dr. Moore’s case she swiftly moved to drop the charges.” Credit where it’s due—Bondi moved fast once the issue hit her desk. But was this justice or political theater?
Bondi also tipped her hat to Sen. Mike Lee, noting he’s been a champion against government overreach in this case. It’s clear the conservative base sees Moore as a stand-in for their broader fight against what they view as a progressive overstep. The question remains: does this dismissal set a precedent for ignoring public health mandates?
Interestingly, Bondi’s announcement comes amid unrelated scrutiny from some on the right over her handling of a past case tied to Jeffrey Epstein. A DOJ memo on Monday clarified there’s no evidence of a blackmail list or foul play in Epstein’s death, ruled a suicide. While unrelated to Moore, it shows Bondi’s navigating a tightrope with her base’s trust.