Susan Monarez, the former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said she was told not to speak directly to senators by leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) before being fired last month.

Monarez made the claim while appearing before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on Wednesday — the first time she has spoken before the Senate since she was fired late last month, less than a month after she was confirmed.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who offered Monarez an apology for doubting her integrity during her confirmation hearing, asked whether she was told not to speak with senators by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

"I was instructed to not speak directly with senators," Monarez said.

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