Lester Crawford quit the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), "abruptly" in September, 2005. As we reported at the time, he took his leave suddenly, in a move that "took the pharmaceutical and medical industries by surprise". It was a quick end to a long FDA career, surprising -- even though as acting FDA head and commissioner he drew consistent ire from Democrats and women's health advocates for making policy seemingly driven by politics. His most controversial moves, failing to pass Plan B birth control drug and assigning a male veterinarian to head up the women's health division, directly proceeded his resignation.
He explained to his staff in a memo at the time: "after 3½ years as deputy commissioner, acting commissioner and finally as commissioner, it is time at the age of 67 to step aside". Earlier this year, however, and when Acronym Required reported a sudden switch in FDA ideology around Plan B, it had come to light that Mr. Crawford faced criminal charges of an "undisclosed nature".
Today New York Times reports that the Justice Department has charged the former commissioner with "making a false writing and conflict of interest". Mr. Crawford and his wife owned stock in Embex, an agriculture biotechnology company whose board he also served on while he headed the FDA. He also claimed that he had no financial holdings that would represent a conflict of interest, when in fact he held significant amounts of stock in Kimberley-Clark and Sysco Corp., and others. He also simultaneously chaired the FDA's Obesity Working Group while holding shares of Sysco and Pepsico.
While at the FDA, Mr. Crawford more often partnered with the Justice Department to regulate the pharmaceutical industry, ostensibly protecting the consumer " from unsafe products and economic deception alike", by enforcing rules, "rooting out and prosecuting health care fraud", and "protecting American consumers from counterfeit and unsafe prescription drugs..." However, under his tenure some legislators criticized the FDA of currying too cozy a relationship with pharmaceuticals. It is expected that in his newest role he will plead guilty to the charges.
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