A former senior official at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) dated employees of an anti-tobacco nonprofit just months before becoming the group’s CEO, emails reveal.
Cathy Crosby played a leading role in shaping public health policy. waiter As Director of Health Communications and Education in the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, became President and CEO of truth initiativeanti-tobacco and anti-nicotine activist group, August 2023.
Before she left the FDA, emails obtained by the Functional Government Initiative (FGI) and shared exclusively with The Daily Caller News Foundation Show Crosby frequently interacted with Truth Initiative employees and even contacted the group’s then-CEO about setting up meetings. (Related: Activist group leader declines to participate in House hearing on organization’s alleged influence on Biden administration)
“The emails we saw raise serious red flags,” Michael Chamberlain, director of the nonpartisan watchdog group Protect the Publics Trust, told DCNF.
“Federal employees are prohibited from accepting gifts, including complimentary tickets to conferences and galas, because of their status as federal employees,” Chamberlain said. “The troubling nature of this episode is compounded by the fact that Ms. Crosby appears to have solicited invitations to the gala she attended. She may have used the event as an opportunity to seek outside employment. is even more wonderful.”
Federal employees are Banned It includes both requesting gifts and accepting those gifts “because of the employee’s official position.” Furthermore, they are Ban It is prohibited to use the office for “private gain”. FDA officials too Banned Prohibits “search for or negotiations for employment that is inconsistent with government official duties or responsibilities.”
In April 2022, the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK) offered Crosby a free ticket to the 2022 Gala. Crosby declined the ticket because he was busy that year, but asked CTFK to “keep it for me.” [her] We have next year’s event in mind. ”
About a year later, Crosby responded to the same email thread, asking CTFK if it intended to “invite our FDA colleagues to attend” the 2023 celebration. Hours later, the organization offered Crosby a free ticket, which she accepted, and she said she “definitely could attend” this year.
Emails indicate that Mr. Crosby did attend the CTFK gala on May 18, 2023, and networked with Truth Initiative employees during his stay.
On May 22, shortly after attending the CTFK gala, Crosby sent an email to then-Truth Initiative President and CEO Robin Koval, requesting that the two “update”. We have scheduled a meeting so that we can do it. In her email, she also mentioned that she had already met Mr. Howard Coe. member the organization’s board of directors, and other staff at the celebration. Koval and Crosby ultimately agreed to meet on May 24, 2023.
“There’s a reason taxpayers are bothered by incestuous relationships between government agencies and activist groups, and it turns out public health agencies are no exception,” said Peter McGinnis, spokesperson for the Functional Government Initiative. said.
“These activist groups do business before government agencies. For example, we know that: [Trust Initiative] “We’re lobbying the FDA to increase fines for manufacturers and sellers of tobacco products, while spending millions of dollars advocating for bans on new products,” McGinniss continued. “It’s a coup.” [Trust Initiative] Mr. Crosby would benefit greatly from having a CEO familiar with the FDA’s workings. ”
August 15, 2023 Truth Initiative Board of Directors announced Mr. Crosby was appointed group president and CEO. After her announcement, while Crosby was still at the FDA, multiple Truth Initiative employees emailed her to congratulate her.
“We just wanted to send our congratulations,” said an email from a member of the group. Vice President of Communications, Sarah Shank reads. “I have always enjoyed working with you and your team at FDA, and I am very excited to be working with you in this new capacity here at the Truth Initiative.”
“We are very excited about this next chapter with our organization,” said Tina Morgan, the organization’s vice president of sponsorship.
The Truth Initiative and Crosby did not respond to requests for comment.
“During her 12 years as director of CTP’s Office of Health Communications and Education, Cathy Crosby frequently communicated via email, telephone, and in-person meetings with a wide range of stakeholders, including national public health agencies, industry, and the media. , and state/local organizations,” an FDA spokesperson told DCNF.
Ms. Crosby “immediately” notified the FDA that she was seeking employment outside the government and “resisted from any public action that would have a financial impact on any prospective employer,” the spokesperson said, adding that Crosby will not be attending the celebration. Mr Crosby’s attendance was “considered and considered”, he added. Approved by FDA ethics officials prior to the event.
Pack of Marlboro cigarettes (Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock)
In 2022, the Truth Initiative was working hard to influence policy through the FDA and other federal agencies.
According to the nonprofit’s 2022 annual report. report, they submitted 14 comments to the federal agency, providing “policy analysis and research” to inform FDA policymaking and urging the FDA to take action against popular synthetic nicotine products like ZYN. and recruited youth activists to submit comments to the FDA on the proposed rule. Eliminate flavored cigars and menthol cigarettes from the market.
During his time at the FDA, Crosby was involved in creating health warnings for cigarette packaging and advertising, developing new tobacco product sales restrictions, and shaping broad national policy. according to In her Truth Initiative biography.
Crosby spearheaded the Public Education and Regulatory Communications Program, which helped the federal government successfully implement tobacco control laws. regulate How can you market your tobacco products?
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