{"id":130,"date":"2026-05-28T04:18:31","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T04:18:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/urbaneconomynews.com\/?p=130"},"modified":"2026-05-28T04:18:31","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T04:18:31","slug":"sen-sheehy-calls-for-ig-investigation-of-montana-research-lab-after-lapses-involving-deadly-viruses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/urbaneconomynews.com\/?p=130","title":{"rendered":"Sen. Sheehy Calls for IG Investigation of Montana Research Lab After Lapses Involving Deadly Viruses"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Senator Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) is demanding a government review of two incidents in the past year involving the \u201ctheft, loss, or release\u201d of a deadly pathogen\u201d at a National Institutes of Health (NIH) research facility in Hamilton, Montana.<\/p>\n

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Rocky Mountain Laboratories (RML), an NIH lab, \u201cconducts studies on some of the world\u2019s most dangerous diseases, meaning even small lapses could put Montana communities at risk,\u201d Sheehy said in a press release, Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Even more concerning are reports that a senior RML scientist allegedly attempted to smuggle dozens of vials of VHF [viral hemorrhagic fever] into the United States from Africa in January and lied to customs officials about their contents.<\/p>\n

The senator sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General T. March Bell after a\u00a0 whistleblower came forward alleging misconduct by RML.<\/p>\n

\u201cGiven the role of the Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General in providing independent oversight of the NIH, I urge a formal investigation into the safety, security, and personnel practices at RML,\u201d Sheehy wrote.<\/p>\n

The first incident happened in November 2025, when a monkey, infected with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), bit an RML employee, breaching their personal protective equipment and exposing them to the dangerous pathogen.<\/p>\n

CCHF is a severe, tick-borne viral disease that causes hemorrhages, muscle pain, high fevers and carries a fatality rate of up to 40 percent.<\/p>\n

The whistleblower told White Coat Waste, the animal advocacy group that first exposed the incidents, that the lab staffer was \u201cbitten by an infected monkey (macaque) that was being tortured (infected and sickened with no pain mitigation).\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis biosafety incident required the exposed employee to quarantine at a specialized medical facility to monitor symptoms and prevent disease transmission,\u201d Sheehy wrote in his letter to the IG.<\/p>\n

Additionally, in February 2026, a RML employee was potentially exposed to CCHF while handling laboratory mice due to a hole in their personal protective equipment.<\/p>\n

White Coat Waste was also the first to report on the detainment of RML senior scientist Vincent Munster at Detroit International Airport in January, after he was caught trying to smuggle \u201cdozens of vials in his baggage\u201d on a trip back from Africa.<\/p>\n

Munster, a foreign-born virologist, \u201chas a history of studying and experimenting with coronaviruses, monkeypox, Ebola, and other potentially dangerous pathogens,\u201d Sheehy wrote in his letter.<\/p>\n

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According to the whistleblower complaint, in January 2026, Dr. Munster and an associate traveled to Africa to perform research activities.<\/p>\n

\u201cUpon their return to the United States on January 25, 2026, Munster was detained at the Detroit International Airport after allegedly transporting vials with unknown contents in his personal luggage,\u201d Sheehy wrote. \u201cIt has since been confirmed that Dr. Munster was indeed detained at the airport and there is an ongoing investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

The whistleblower then alleges that on January 26, 2026, RML permitted Dr. Munster and his associates to \u201ccome and go as they pleased into the facility, into the high containment BSL-4 building, and into their offices.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite being detained the day before, the whistleblower alleges this occurred \u201ccompletely unsupervised and unrestricted.\u201d According to the whistleblower, on January 27, 2026, RML then restricted access to the three individuals, though a \u201cpersonal representative\u201d was allowed to get their belongings. Another concern, if true, is the claim that one of Munster\u2019s associates has since had full facility access restored.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The whistleblower told White Coat Waste that Munster \u201cgot caught trying to sneak VHF [viral hemorrhagic fever] samples into the United States from Africa\u201d and that NIH officials \u201cdid not inform the RML campus and went into full coverup mode.\u201d<\/p>\n

In response to the group\u2019s concerning report, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. confirmed that his agency referred Munster to the FBI and stated, \u201cI assume he is going to prison.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThese events raise serious questions about the safety and security procedures at RML, including NIH\u2019s hiring and personnel management practices for scientists handling dangerous pathogens,\u201d Sheehy said in his letter. \u201cIt is critical that scientists, especially those with foreign connections, are thoroughly vetted given the potentially catastrophic impacts of their work on our nation\u2019s health and security.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sheehy requested that the IG review the November 2025 and February 2026 incidents at RML, \u201cthe purpose of the research, the pathogens being used, and the biosafety and biosecurity procedures followed by the lab.\u201d<\/p>\n

The senator also asked for a review of RML\u2019s personnel management practices,\u00a0 and \u201cany recommendations to ensure that employees placed in a position of public trust are appropriately vetted and monitored.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t want Montana to be the next Wuhan,\u201d Sheehy posted on X, Tuesday. \u201cMontanans and Americans deserve answers over concerning reports out of Rocky Mountain Laboratories.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Biden DHS Released Nearly 90 Percent of Border Migrants Through Parole Program<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Senator Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) is demanding a government review of two incidents in the past year involving the \u201ctheft, loss, or release\u201d of a deadly pathogen\u201d at\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":129,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-130","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nSen. 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