A longtime senior advisor to Dr. Anthony Fauci has been indicted on federal charges related to allegedly concealing communications about COVID-19 using private email accounts during the pandemic.

The indictment accuses the former advisor of hiding pandemic-related communications, including discussions about the origins of COVID-19, by conducting official business through personal email channels rather than government accounts subject to public records requirements.

Following the indictment, the Southern Poverty Law Center has filed a request seeking disclosure of grand jury transcripts related to the criminal case. The organization has criticized senior Justice Department officials, claiming they made misleading statements in connection with the charges.

The case centers on allegations that the advisor used private email to avoid creating official government records of communications that would typically be subject to Freedom of Information Act requests and other transparency measures.

The charges represent the latest development in ongoing scrutiny of government officials' communications during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly regarding discussions about the virus's origins and public health response decisions.

Neither the Justice Department nor representatives for the indicted advisor have provided immediate comment on the charges or the SPLC's request for grand jury materials.