The Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic is calling for a criminal investigation into the origins of the coronavirus.
The call for an investigation came after the release of a preliminary staff report accusing EcoHealth Alliance president Dr. Peter Daszak of funding “dangerous gain-of-function research in Wuhan, China, without adequate oversight.” .
“Overwhelming primary sources and credible first-hand testimony gathered through the Special Subcommittee’s investigation provide significant evidence that Dr. Daszak repeatedly violated the terms of the NIH grants awarded to EcoHealth.” said a Wednesday statement from the Oversight and Accountability Committee.
EcoHealth Alliance president to testify on origins of coronavirus, taxpayer-funded research at Wuhan lab
Peter Daszak (right), Thea Fisher (left) and other members of the World Health Organization (WHO) team investigating the origins of the new coronavirus arrive at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei province. (Héctor Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)
It continues, “Given Dr. Daszak’s clear disrespect for the American people and disregard for his legal reporting obligations, the Select Subcommittee recommends formal disbarment and criminal investigation against EcoHealth and its Chairman.” .
EcoHealth Alliance is a US-based non-governmental organization focused on pandemic prevention research.
EcoHealth “used tax dollars to fund dangerous medical care,” according to lawmakers. Function acquisition research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) in China.
NGOs dispute that claim.
FBI director says coronavirus pandemic ‘most likely’ originated in a Chinese lab
Wuhan, February 3, 2021, as members of the World Health Organization (WHO) team investigating the origins of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) coronavirus visit the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei province. Security guards stand guard outside the Wuhan Institute of Virology. (Hector Retamal/AFP)
“EcoHealth Alliance does not support the ‘gain-of-function’ research at WIV and did not violate any policies. Any claims to the contrary are either misunderstandings or intentional changes to the actual research conducted. is based on misrepresentations,” EcoHealth Alliance told FOX News Digital. In a statement.
The NGO further states that “despite SSCP’s claims that EHA conducted gain-of-function research, as confirmed by the NIH in a letter to EcoHealth Alliance released through a Freedom of Information Act request on July 7, 2016. “The NIH itself does not agree with that,” he added. NIAID agrees that the proposed research is not subject to… [gain-of-function] Research funding will be suspended. ”
Mr. Daszak publicly testified before a special House subcommittee on Wednesday. coronavirus pandemic.
“The public nature of our work and our long-standing collaboration with Chinese scientists have made us a target of misinformation about the origins of the coronavirus,” Daszak told commissioners during Wednesday’s hearing. told the group members. “From early 2020 to today, we have repeatedly refuted many myths and false claims about EcoHealth Alliance research.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
This aerial photo shows the P4 laboratory on the campus of the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei province. (Héctor Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)
“However, at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic seemed out of control and emotions were running high, our organization and staff, and even my own family, were threatened with false claims, death threats, and trespassing. , media harassment, and other forms of harm,” he continued. “Our organization has gone to great lengths to address all allegations head-on, verify records, and publicize the facts.”
Fox News Digital previously reported that EcoHealth Alliance received a multi-million dollar grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). U.S. taxpayer funds flowed to Chinese companies conducting coronavirus research through EcoHealth Alliance.
Fox News Digital’s Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
