Republicans are demanding a criminal investigation into a central figure in the COVID origins controversy due to his ties to gain-of-function research in Wuhan and his persistent denials that the virus originated from a laboratory.
Republicans will question EcoHealth Alliance President Dr. Peter Daszak on Wednesday regarding his receipt of federal funding for coronavirus research in Wuhan, China, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Daszak is believed to possess crucial information regarding the Wuhan Institute of Virology's extensive coronavirus research prior to the emergence of COVID-19, and Republicans are seeking clarification.
On Wednesday, in anticipation of a hearing with Daszak before the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, the committee issued a report urging a criminal investigation into the scientist and EcoHealth for allegedly breaching government grant agreements and legal reporting obligations.
“Peter Daszak is the closest this committee will ever get to questioning a Chinese spy,” stated Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, who serves on the committee, in an exclusive statement to the Daily Mail.
Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.) explained before Wednesday's hearing, “I want to confront him on the way that he got refunded for his research.” He alleged that Daszak's gain-of-function research was fully reimbursed by the U.S.
Recently, Daszak was accused of assisting a top aide of Dr. Anthony Fauci, David Morens, in circumventing federal transparency laws by communicating through non-governmental accounts, stating “we'll communicate with you via Gmail from now on.” Additionally, the EcoHealth founder referenced having “15,000 samples in freezers in Wuhan” that could aid in “doing the full genomes of 700+ coronaviruses.”
On Wednesday, Chairman Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio, of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, will question Daszak about his communications with Morens, Fauci, and the Wuhan Institute of Virology regarding the origins of COVID-19.
Republicans previously disclosed that EcoHealth Alliance and the Wuhan Institute of Virology, in collaboration with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), submitted a proposal to federal officials in 2018, seeking funding for the creation of a novel coronavirus.
