BEIJING, April 30(Xinhuanet) -- Dr. Lester
Crawford, former head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is under
federal investigation amid accusations of financial improprieties and making
false statements to Congress.
Crawford did not reply to messages left by the Times
of U.S. seeking comment. FDA spokeswoman Kathleen Quinn also declined
to comment.
Before resigning from the position of FDA last
September, he had been acting commissioner for more than a year. He then has
since joined a Washington lobbying firm, Policy Directions Inc.
One of the most controversial issues
during Crawford's tenure was the application by Barr Laboratory to market
the emergency contraceptive Plan B as an over-the-counter drug.
Financial disclosure forms show that a month before
he resigned, Crawford sold more than 50-thousand dollars in shares in a company
regulated by the agency. Enditem
(Agencies)
