A Danish scientist specializing in autism and vaccine research has been extradited to the United States to face federal wire fraud and money laundering charges after spending years evading arrest in Denmark.
Poul Thorsen, 65, was arrested in Germany in summer 2025 and extradited to Atlanta on May 7. Federal prosecutors stated that Thorsen had been avoiding arrest since his 2011 indictment in Atlanta, where he had worked with the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Video posted to social media by federal officials showed Thorsen being escorted through Atlanta International Airport.
According to court records reviewed by USA TODAY, Thorsen was accused of diverting a portion of $11 million in research funds paid to Danish government agencies. The CDC had awarded these Danish agencies funding for research into possible connections between autism and vaccines, and Thorsen was responsible for helping with the work. He is accused of using that money to buy cars, a house, and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
“International fugitives who think they can avoid responsibility for serious federal crimes by living overseas are wrong,” U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg said in a statement. Prior to these charges, the CDC and other federal agencies said there was no link between autism and vaccines. The American Medical Association maintains that stance, noting “an abundance of evidence from decades of scientific studies shows no link between vaccines and autism.”
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://us.headtopics.com/news/vaccine-researcher-to-face-charges-accusing-him-of-stealing-83171758