FBI Investigation Into Illegal COVID Shots At Trump Tower Revealed

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A Chicago hospital is under investigation by the FBI connected to the administration of COVID-19 vaccines at the city’s Trump Tower development for people who weren’t eligible for the shots at the time. The hospital in question, known as Loretto Hospital, has been embroiled in scandal as details of the situation have emerged. Now, a news outlet called Block Club Chicago reports that “[two] federal grand jury subpoenas were issued to the Illinois Department of Public Health in May and September after Block Club Chicago revealed the hospital vaccinated ineligible people at Chicago’s Trump Tower, where Loretto’s chief financial officer, Dr. Anosh Ahmed, lived, as well as a luxury jewelry shop and a high-end Gold Coast steakhouse where Ahmed hung out.”

The subpoenas apparently state that they were issued “pursuant to an official criminal investigation.” Specifically, one of the subpoenas orders the release to federal authorities of “information on the vaccination status of 70 people inoculated through Loretto on March 10 and 47 people vaccinated by Loretto the next day, March 11,” as Block Club Chicago reports. On March 10, a vaccination event at Chicago’s Trump Tower took place, with a stop-by from Eric Trump himself, who Ahmed at one point claimed to have vaccinated — although he later indicated that he was joking. It’s not immediately clear where the 47 vaccinations that were mentioned by that subpoena may have taken place — the “hospital’s self-audit… lists no vaccination event where 47 more people were inoculated,” according to Block Club Chicago’s reporting.

The other subpoena — which was issued recently, on September 15 — demands the release of records for any COVID-19 vaccinations that the hospital administered on March 10 or 11 of this year. Ahmed has resigned from his position at Loretto Hospital. Block Club Chicago — whose incisive reporting continues — notes that Chicago “officials administered Illinois’ first vaccinations at Loretto in December, in large part to assure Black and Latino citizens they would be prioritized and protected,” but an audit later revealed over half of the early doses of COVID-19 vaccines administered on-site at Loretto Hospital were received by white and Asian patients, although the hospital’s area has a Black majority. Read more at this link.

Throughout the pandemic, the relationship of prominent Republicans to COVID-19 vaccines has been fraught. Although former President Trump was vaccinated early on, he has declined to engage in public advocacy on behalf of vaccinations to the point that others have — although it’s utterly ridiculous to make vaccines a political issue, considering their proven ability to save lives.