The doctor who exposed secret transgender procedures on children at the nation's largest children's hospital is hoping President Donald Trump will stop the Department of Justice (DOJ) from putting him on trial in February.
Dr. Ethan Heim told the Daily Caller News Foundation that if the Justice Department continues to prosecute him for blowing the whistle on Texas Children's Hospital's gender reassignment program in May 2023, it will be in “direct violation” of the White House. He said he would do so. The Justice Department claims he is bankrupt. Released records of transgender proceedings to the media, filing felonies that led to national scrutiny, a months-long halt to proceedings, and the firing of the lead prosecutor.
“My message [to Trump] “This case needs to be dropped immediately with prejudice.'' The people who initiated this case need to be investigated,'' Heim said in a phone interview. Otherwise, “insane legal theories will be justified and will destroy the medical profession,” the Houston-based surgeon said.
While working at Texas Children's Hospital, Heim leaked documents to journalist Chris Rufo that exposed children to transgender surgeries and cross-sex hormones after the facility told the public it had stopped. It was revealed that he had registered. The Texas Republican Party then banned transgender procedures for minors.
Former President Joe Biden's Justice Department indicted Haim in May 2024 under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, accusing him of illegally disclosing the personal information of children undergoing gender reassignment appointments. Ministry of Justice admitted The indictment alleges Heim redacted the children's names before giving the files to Rufo. But it accuses Heim of “malice” against the hospital and “unauthorized” use of data he had access to as an employee.
Heim faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine if convicted.
“What they are charging me with…is not defined,” Heim told DCNF. He said his case could set a precedent that would “allow prosecutors to criminalize doctors who run counter to the political interests of major hospital systems.”
Prosecutor Tina Ansari, who prosecuted the case, said: withdrew from the case in november After Ms. Haim's attorney revealed that her law license had been suspended and that she had family members with ties to Haim. Texas Children's Hospital.
A Texas court ruled against Heim. jury trial for On February 10, after it was postponed, the Justice Department was given until Friday. Submit details Regarding planned witnesses.
The agency's office in the Southern District of Texas did not respond to multiple requests for comment. DCNF then contacted the Department of Justice Public Affairs Office, but did not receive an immediate response.
We can no longer remain silent.
I will be on trial in a few weeks in what has previously been nothing but a kangaroo court. All the most basic rules were violated to favor a corrupt Justice Department, and all of them came at a price… https://t.co/mVPux73aNl
— Ethan Haim, MD (@EithanHaim) January 22, 2025
Trump signed presidential order On Monday, a resolution was passed to end the “weaponization of the federal government” by the Justice Department and other agencies against the previous administration's “political opponents.” The White House press office did not immediately respond to inquiries about whether President Trump plans to work on Haim's case.
prosecutor requested Gag order against Heim but appointed by Reagan judge david chtner It refused to rule on the December request. Heim said legal ambiguities threatened his silence and prevented him from publicly criticizing the case. Now, he says, he couldn't bear to stay silent. (Related: Elon Musk's X defends free speech rights of whistleblower indicted by Biden-Harris Justice Department)
“What's it like to be tortured in a basement and scream as loud as you can and no one can hear you?” he said. “And no matter how much you scream, the torture will only continue.”
Heim, a husband and father of one, said he had “no confidence” that the judge would give him a fair trial and said, “I don't want to pay court costs for the rest of my life.”
“What they want to do is make us bleed to make me beg for some stupid agreement, which I will never do,” Heim told DCNF. “If they let me do that, all this would go away and their corruption would be justified.”
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