Scandal has reached a full boil at America’s Frontline Docs—the right-wing pseudo-medical group infamous for peddling bogus COVID-19 remedies and concern mongering over vaccines and different secure, efficient well being measures.
The scandal has break up the group—aka AFLDS—into warring factions, with its outstanding founder, Simone Gold, accused of a slew of wrongdoing, together with utilizing the charity group’s funds to purchase a $3.6 million mansion for herself and her boyfriend. She’s additionally accused of staging a hostile coup of the group within the weeks since her launch from federal jail for her function within the January 6, 2021, revolt, which the group has defended.
The coup has left staff locked out of e-mail accounts and different assets, in accordance with a lawsuit filed by AFLDS in opposition to Gold on November 4. The lawsuit additionally claims Gold seized management of the group’s financial institution accounts, which reportedly include a minimum of $7.3 million. For now, it seems Gold additionally has management over the AFLDS web site, which has been pumping out fawning and indignant press releases on her behalf. It is in an awfully sordid state, even for the ignoble group.
Notoriety
AFLDS first went viral within the early days of the pandemic, memorably spewing pandemic misinformation from the steps of the Supreme Courtroom in a July 2020 occasion organized by the group Tea Social gathering Patriots. Far-right media outlet Breitbart livestreamed the gathering, and then-President Donald Trump retweeted video clips. The viral clips featured AFLDS-member Stella Immanuel falsely claiming hydroxychloroquine is a “treatment for COVID.” Immanuel can be notable for beforehand claiming that gynecological situations are attributable to having intercourse in goals with demons and witches, that trendy medication makes use of “alien DNA,” and that scientists are attempting to make a vaccine to forestall folks from being non secular.
Because the group’s startling nationwide debut, it has carried on with its mission, which it describes as offering “We The Individuals with impartial data from the world’s high consultants in medication and regulation so that you will be empowered with info, shield your well being, and exert your inalienable and Constitutionally assured rights.” In doing so, AFLDS has raked in tens of millions of {dollars} from donations and by serving to to dole out doubtful prescriptions of ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine.
It has additionally continued its hyperlinks to far-right political exercise, which introduced Gold to the Capitol in the course of the January 6 revolt. Earlier this 12 months, Gold, 56, pleaded responsible for her function within the assault. After becoming a member of the mob, she strolled into the rotunda, passing an injured officer with out providing medical assist, and gave a speech in opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and government-imposed lockdowns. The speech was filmed by her boyfriend, John Strand, an underwear mannequin and AFLDS worker.
Gold was sentenced to 60 days in federal jail. Strand, 39, was discovered responsible on 5 offenses, together with one felony, and is awaiting sentencing in January 2023. He faces as much as 23 years in jail for the mixed offenses.
Monetary allegations
Since Gold was launched from jail on September 9, issues have solely gone downhill for AFLDS—fairly dramatically, in truth. Evidently whereas Gold was behind bars, different leaders at AFLDS started wanting over the books, noting some somewhat gorgeous issues along with her use of the charity’s funds.
In accordance with a lawsuit filed earlier this month by AFLDS and the chair of its board of administrators, Joseph Gilbert, Gold purchased a $3.6 million dwelling in Naples, Florida, in November 2021 with AFLDS funds. Gold lives in the home with Strand, neither of whom paid lease to AFLDS. Gold additional used AFLDS funds to subsidize her life-style, charging the charity $12,000 monthly for a private safety officer, $5,600 monthly for a housekeeper, and placing $50,000 monthly on AFLDS bank cards. Strand, in the meantime, who had a $120,000 annual wage from AFLDS, charged $15,000 to $17,000 monthly on AFLDS bank cards.
Across the identical time, Gold purchased three automobiles with AFLDS funds, together with a Mercedes-Benz, the lawsuit alleges. At numerous occasions, she additionally took unauthorized flights on non-public planes, one among which price AFLDS over $100,000.
The identical month Gold purchased her dwelling, she additionally used AFLDS funds to lease a Florida property for AFLDS staff “AJ” and Lisa Andrzejewski. Gold agreed to place down $45,000 upfront and pay $15,000 monthly all through the 12-month lease with the group’s cash.
However issues modified after the revolt. On February 2, 2022—a few month earlier than Gold pleaded responsible—she resigned from AFLDS’ board, and Gilbert was voted into the chair place. In his new function, Gilbert steered Gold might keep on at AFLDS as a guide. In negotiations with Gilbert for such a consulting settlement, Gold sought a signing bonus of $1.5 million and a $600,000 annual consulting payment. It is unclear from the lawsuit if Gold bought that deal.
