White House coronavirus adviser Scott Atlas has apologised for giving an interview to Russia's Kremlin-backed television station RT, saying he was unaware the outlet was a registered foreign agent in the United States.
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Atlas, a neuroradiologist and member of the White House coronavirus task force, appeared on the channel on Saturday and criticised coronavirus lockdowns measures, calling them an "epic failure" at stopping the COVID-19's spread.
"I regret doing the interview and apologise for allowing myself to be taken advantage of," Atlas wrote on Twitter.
"I especially apologise to the national security community who is working hard to defend us."
RT registered as a foreign agent three years ago. A January 2017 report from US intelligence agencies said the television station is "Russia's state-run propaganda machine" and it contributed to the Kremlin's campaign to interfere with the 2016 presidential election in favour of the winning candidate, Republican President Donald Trump.
RT America was then ordered to comply with requirements under the Foreign Agent Registration Act.
Public health experts in the United States have previously raised concerns that Atlas, who has no background in infectious diseases, is providing misleading or incorrect information on the pandemic to Trump.
Anthony Fauci, the leading US infectious disease expert, said on Saturday that Atlas was the only pandemic adviser who Trump regularly saw.
"I have real problems with that guy," Fauci told the Washington Post. "He's a smart guy who's talking about things that I believe he doesn't have any real insight or knowledge or experience in."
Australian Associated Press
