A Danish scientist specializing in autism and vaccine research has been extradited to the US to face federal wire fraud and money laundering charges.
Federal prosecutors said Poul Thorsen , 65, had been avoiding arrest by remaining in Denmark since his 2011 indictment in Atlanta, where he had worked with the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.
Authorities said Thorsen was arrested in Germany in summer 2025 and flown back to Atlanta on May 7 under an extradition order. Video posted to social media by federal officials showed Thorsen being escorted through Atlanta International Airport, a blue towel covering his shackled hands.. stands silently as Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins speaks during an event to"Celebrate the Implementation of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans" at the Health and Human Services Headquarters on Feb.11, 2026 in Washington, DC.
HHS Secretary RFK Jr. celebrated the updated guidelines and the Make America Healthy Again movement with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, former boxing heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, U.S. Chief Design Officer Joe Gebbia, American Medical Association President Bobby Mukkamala, Chef Andrew Gruel, Defense Department Undersecretary Mike Obadal, and Bureau of Prisons Director William Marshall. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at a fireside chat in the National Press Building on Feb. 2, 2026 in Washington, DC.
RFK Jr. spoke at the Action for Progress event about plans to transform behavioral health, especially on his commitment to those struggling with addiction. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unveils the department's new dietary guidelines food chart during a policy announcement event at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Jan. 8, 2026 in Washington, DC.
The Trump administration announced new dietary guidelines on Wednesday including an emphasis on proteins and full-fat dairy, and limits on processed foods. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks as he participates in a TV interview at the White House on Jan. 7, 2026 in Washington, DC.
Kennedy and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins joined White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt to discuss new dietary guidelines encouraging the consumption of fewer processed foods and more whole foods, fruits, vegetables and saturated fat. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during an event with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Roosevelt Room of the White House Dec. 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump delivered remarks on lowering prescription drug prices during the event.
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during an announcement at the Department of Health and Human Services on Dec. 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. The Trump administration held an event Òto announce actions to protect children from harmful medical interventions.
Ó U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. participate in a discussion during The Official MAHA Summit at Waldorf Astoria Hotel on Nov. 12, 2025 in Washington, DC. Top Trump administration officials, executives and influencers gathered to discuss the ÒMake America Healthy AgainÓ agenda at the summit.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services, testifies about the health care agenda for the Trump administration in front of the Senate Committee on Finance in Washington, D.C. , on September 4, 2025.
President Donald Trump stands, flanked by US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, US golfer Bryson DeChambeau, WWE CCO Triple H and US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., after signing an executive order restarting the Presidential Fitness Test in public schools in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on July 31, 2025. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Mehmet Oz confer before an event on Health Technology in the East Room of the White House on July 30, 2025 in Washington, DC.
The event titled “Remarks On Making Health Technology Great Again” was held to discuss new efforts by tech companies to help Americans access their health records. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Martin Makary, left, and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., eat ice cream at the end of a news conference at the USDA headquarters building in Washington, DC, on July 14, 2025.
According to US media reports, ice cream makers in the US are planning to eliminate several artificial colors from their products by 2028. The announcement comes less than a week before National Ice Cream Day on July 20.
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., speaks with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Senator Roger Marshall ahead of a roundtable event as part of the"Make America Healthy Again" agenda, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. on July 15, 2025. Oklahoma governor Kevin Stitt holds up an executive order that includes a state review of water fluoridation and use of artificial food dyes, as U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. applauds, at a Make Oklahoma Healthy Again kickoff event at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on June 26, 2025.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Committee Health Subcommittee in the Rayburn House Office Building on June 24, 2025 in Washington, DC. The committee met to hear testimony on the FY2026 Department of Health and Human Services budget.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, drinks a beverage while he testifies in front of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee in Washington, D.C. , on May 15, 2025. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, arrives to testify in front of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies in Washington, D.C.
, on May 15, 2025. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks alongside President Donald Trump during a press conference in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on May 12, 2025, in Washington, DC. During the event, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at reducing the cost of prescription drugs and pharmaceuticals by 30% to 80%.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on May 12, 2025, in Washington, DC. During the event, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at reducing the cost of prescription drugs and pharmaceuticals by 30% to 80%.
Trump was joined by, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Martin Makary, National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Mehmet Oz. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., accompanied by National Institutes of Health Director Jayanta Bhattacharya , and Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary speaks during a news conference at the Health and Human Services Department on April 22, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Kennedy and Makary spoke about the intent of the FDA"to phase out the use of petroleum-based synthetic dyes in the nation's food supply.
" Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during a news conference at the Department of Health and Human Services on April 16, 2025, in Washington, DC. MIAPresident Donald Trump, along with FBI Director Kash Patel and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Elon Musk and his son , watch Australian fighter Alexander Volkanovski and Brazilian fighter Diego Lopes during an Ultimate Fighting Championship fight at the Kaseya Center on April 12, 2025 in Miami, Fla.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is acknowledged as President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress on March 4, 2025. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. joined by his wife Cheryl Hines and his family is sworn in as Secretary of Health and Human Services by Associate Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch in the Oval Office at the White House on February 13, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Kennedy, who faced criticism for his past comments on vaccine, was confirmed by the Senate 52 to 48. Former Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell was the only Republican to vote against him. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies on Jan. 29, 2025, at his Senate hearing on his nomination to be the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. greets Senate Finance Committee Chariman Mike Crapo before the start of a confirmation hearing on his nomination to be Secretary of Health and Human Services on Jan. 29, 2025 in Washington. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s wife Cheryl Hines attends the Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing on Kennedy’s nomination to be Secretary of Health and Human Services on Jan. 29, 2025 in Washington.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be the next Health and Human Services Secretary, meets with Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on Jan. 9, 2025. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to lead HHS, arrives to meet with Senator Rick Scott, R-Fla. , and later, several Republican members of key Senate committees on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024 on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard stand behind President-elect Donald Trump as they watch a fight during a heavyweight fight at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Nov. 16, 2024. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. takes a selfie with guests at the America First Policy Institute Gala held at Mar-a-Lago on Nov. 14, 2024 in Palm Beach, Fla. Bobby Kennedy Jr. protests against Keystone XL Pipeline at Lafayette Park on Feb. 13, 2013 in Washington, DC.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his children sit in a globe at the exhibition of Cool Globes in Amsterdam on June 7, 2011. The exhibition features huge globes which propose ideas on how to control climate issues. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attend the 2010 Riverkeeper Benefit at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers on April 14, 2010 in New York City.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and T. Boone Pickens host an energy policy briefing at the United States Capitol on Jan. 13, 2009 in Washington, D.C. Pickens and Kennedy advocate moving the American economy away from foreign sources of oil and reducing carbon emissions. Robert Kennedy Jr. speaks to the students at Pace University in New York Sept. 18, 2003, after endorsing Democratic Presidential hopeful John Kerry at a press conference.
Kennedy endorsed Kerry citing his lifelong commitment and leadership to improve the environment. Maria Shriver , Senator Robert F. Kennedy Jr and wife Mary attend the"Earth To L.A. 2" celebrity fundraising event for the Natural Resources Defense Council, the nation's most influential environmental organization, May 10, 2002 in Los Angeles. Robert Kennedy Jr., of the WaterKeeper Alliance, attends a news conference Jan. 24, 2002 in New York City.
The drug company Bayer allegedly refuses to comply with a proposal by the Food and Drug Administration to ban a version of Cipro for use in poultry. The press conference was held shortly after Bayers debut on the New York Stock Exchange directly across the street from the stock exchange. Robert Kennedy Jr., and Rev. Jesse Jackson, arrive At The San Juan District Court July 6, 2001 In Vieques, Puerto Rico.
Kennedy Is Being Tried For Trespassing On Navy Restricted Grounds At Camp Garcia Base During A Protest Against The Navy's Bombing Exercises. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, speaks with reporters at the Democratic National Convention in the Staples Center, Aug. 15, 2000, in Los Angeles. Robert Kennedy, Jr. tours Puerto Rico, April 18, 2000, to Examine the environmental Impact of US Navy training operations on the island of Vieques.
Kennedy is planning to file a lawsuit against the Navy on behalf of the Natural Resources Defense Council. Democratic presidential hopeful Vice President Al Gore speaks as environmental activist and lawyer Robert Kennedy Jr. listens during a speech to the Iowa Earth Year 2000 conference in Des Moines, Iowa Jan. 21, 2000.
Robert Kennedy Jr. speaks at a press conference upon his arrival at Miami International Airport on Feb. 19, 1996, after visiting Cuba with his brother Michael and a delegation of US environmental and energy experts.. stands silently as Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins speaks during an event to"Celebrate the Implementation of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans" at the Health and Human Services Headquarters on Feb.11, 2026 in Washington, DC.
HHS Secretary RFK Jr. celebrated the updated guidelines and the Make America Healthy Again movement with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, former boxing heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, U.S. Chief Design Officer Joe Gebbia, American Medical Association President Bobby Mukkamala, Chef Andrew Gruel, Defense Department Undersecretary Mike Obadal, and Bureau of Prisons Director William Marshall.
“International fugitives who think they can avoid responsibility for serious federal crimes by living overseas are wrong," U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg said in a statement. According to court records reviewed by USA TODAY, Thorsen was accused of diverting a portion of $11 million in research funds paid to Danish government agencies. The CDC had awarded the Danish agencies funding for research into possible connections between autism and vaccines, and Thorsen was responsible for helping with the work.
He is accused of using that money to buy cars, a house and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Prior to Kennedy taking the reins, the CDC and other federal agencies said there was no link between autism and vaccines. The American Medical Association maintains that stance: "... an abundance of evidence from decades of scientific studies shows no link between vaccines and autism," the
Atlanta International Airport Federal Prosecutors Danish Government Agencies Vaccines And Autism Money Laundering Charges
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