This article originally appeared onThe Defenderand was republished with permission.
Guest post byMichael Nevradakis, Ph.D.
The 2021 publication of “The Disinformation Dozen” list of 12 “leading online anti-vaxxers” sparked efforts to discredit U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Sayer Ji and other outspoken critics of COVID-19 pandemic policies and vaccines. Five years later, the release of the “Epstein Files” has led to the resignation of one of the list’s architects — Morgan McSweeney.
The 2021 publication of “The Disinformation Dozen” list of 12 “leading online anti-vaxxers” sparked efforts to discredit U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,Sayer Jiand other outspoken critics of COVID-19 pandemic policies and vaccines.
Five years later, the release of the “Epstein Files” has led to the resignation of one of the list’s architects —Morgan McSweeney.
McSweeney, chief of staff to the U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, resigned Sunday. In 2018, he co-founded what later became known as theCenter for Countering Digital Hate(CCDH), which published the “Disinformation Dozen” list.
McSweeney’s resignation stemmed from his prior support forPeter Mandelson, former U.K. ambassador to the U.S.
Mandelson is implicated in the Epstein Files for his close ties to disgraced financier and registered sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. McSweeney had advised Starmer to appoint Mandelson to his ambassadorial post.
Starmer removed Mandelson from his post in September 2025, after emails betweenMandelson and Epsteinwere made public. In the emails, Mandelson suggested that Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting sex from a child prostitute was wrongful and should be overturned.
The Epstein Files also showed that Mandelson shared sensitive government information with Epstein. The U.K. Metropolitan Police launched acriminal investigation of Mandelson, whileStarmer apologizedto Epstein’s sex-trafficking victims.
Source: The Vigilant Fox
