Vaccine-autism researcher arrested after decade on the run for stealing $1M from CDC
By isabelle // 2025-09-17
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  • Disgraced CDC vaccine researcher Poul Thorsen was arrested in Germany after a decade on the run for fraud and money laundering.
  • His fraudulent studies, used to dismiss vaccine-autism links, helped deny more than 5,000 injury claims while he stole nearly $1 million in CDC funds.
  • Thorsen’s research was riddled with flaws, ethical violations, and conflicts of interest, yet the CDC continued defending it even after his crimes were exposed.
  • Critics say his arrest reveals systemic corruption in vaccine research, where pharmaceutical influence and fraudulent science silence families of injured children.
  • If extradited and compelled to testify, Thorsen could expose deeper collusion between the CDC, researchers, and industry, raising questions about who really controls vaccine safety.
For more than a decade, Danish scientist Poul Thorsen evaded justice while his fraudulent research helped deny thousands of vaccine injury claims. Now, after years as a fugitive, the disgraced researcher has finally been arrested in Germany—and the U.S. is pushing for his extradition. Thorsen, a key figure in studies claiming no link between vaccines and autism, was indicted in 2011 on 22 counts of wire fraud and money laundering after allegedly stealing nearly $1 million from CDC research grants. His arrest follows an Interpol Red Notice, marking a long-overdue reckoning for a man whose work shaped vaccine policy while he lived as a wanted criminal.

A decade of fraud, a decade of lies

Thorsen’s research, published in top medical journals, became the cornerstone of arguments against vaccine-autism connections. His studies were cited by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and used to dismiss more than 5,000 vaccine injury claims in federal court. Yet behind the scenes, he was siphoning CDC funds—$891,814, according to the U.S. Office of Inspector General—into personal accounts, buying homes, cars, and even a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. The scheme unraveled when investigators discovered Thorsen had submitted fraudulent invoices on CDC letterheads, funneling money meant for autism research into his own pockets. Despite his indictment, Denmark refused to extradite him, allowing him to remain free for years.

Flawed science, real consequences

Critics have long questioned Thorsen’s studies, pointing to methodological flaws, conflicts of interest, and missing data. Scientist James Lyons-Weiler, Ph.D., noted that the Danish registry studies Thorsen co-authored were contained problems such as confounding variables, misclassification biases, and shifting diagnostic criteria—hardly the gold standard they were made out to be. Even worse, Thorsen’s team never obtained proper ethical approval for their research. When the CDC discovered this in 2009, officials covered it up instead of retracting the studies. Children’s Health Defense Chief Scientific Officer Brian Hooker stated: "This crime is much bigger than Thorsen. His collaborators need to be brought to justice as well. They partied on the backs of many autistic children. Frankly, jail time is too good for Thorsen and the many other fraudsters at CDC, IOM, and the VICP!" Thorsen’s arrest isn’t just about one bad actor; it’s a window into systemic corruption in vaccine research. His studies were used to shut down legitimate concerns about vaccine safety, silencing families who believed their children were harmed. Meanwhile, the CDC continued defending his work, even after his crimes came to light. Investigative journalist James Grundvig, author of Master Manipulator: The Explosive True Story of Fraud, Embezzlement, and Government Betrayal at the CDC, warned that Thorsen’s case is just the tip of the iceberg: "It is not just Thorsen. It won’t be just taking down one guy," he said, adding that if compelled to testify, "he will be pointing fingers and naming names."

Who really controls vaccine research and safety?

Thorsen’s arrest raises serious questions about who controls vaccine research—and why. His studies were funded by the CDC, an agency with deep ties to the pharmaceutical industry. When research is this compromised, how can the public trust the conclusions? For years, parents of vaccine-injured children have been dismissed, ridiculed, and denied justice, all while fraudulent science was used to justify the status quo. Now, with Thorsen finally facing consequences, the truth is coming to light. The U.S. Department of Justice is working with German authorities to extradite Thorsen. If he testifies, his revelations could expose wider corruption in vaccine research. But one thing is already clear: the studies he helped author cannot be trusted. For families who’ve fought for answers, this arrest is a small but crucial step toward accountability. The real question now is: How many more fraudsters are still hiding in plain sight? Sources for this article include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org Breitbart.com OIG.HHS.gov Justice.gov
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