Home Oversight Chairman Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., is renewing an investigation into former President Donald Trump’s dealing with of the coronavirus pandemic.
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Home Oversight Chairman Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., is renewing an investigation into former President Donald Trump’s dealing with of the coronavirus pandemic.
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Up to date at 10:54 a.m. ET
Home Democrats are renewing their investigation into the Trump administration’s dealing with of the coronavirus disaster, citing new paperwork and what they name proof of political interference within the authorities response to the virus.
Home Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., despatched letters to White Home chief of workers Ron Klain and appearing Well being and Human Companies Secretary Norris Cochran informing them of the investigations and extra proof. Clyburn cites an inside HHS electronic mail that he says consists of particulars of an effort to finish testing of asymptomatic infections over considerations that individuals who check optimistic would quarantine and suppress the financial system.
The letter focuses significantly on allegations that Trump administration adviser Dr. Paul Alexander tried to suppress scientific information and pressured members of the White Home Coronavirus Activity Drive to change public data.
“The earlier Administration refused to cooperate with the Choose Subcommittee’s inquiries, with the Division of Well being and Human Companies (HHS) blocking paperwork and witnesses associated to the politicization of public well being data, testing and provide shortages, vaccine improvement and distribution, and different important features of the nation’s virus response,” Clyburn wrote. “Paperwork just lately obtained by the Choose Subcommittee increase additional questions on political interference with the coronavirus response in the course of the earlier Administration.”
The White Home and Division of Well being and Human Companies didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
Committee Democrats additionally cite emails between Alexander and former Assistant Well being and Human Companies Secretary Michael Caputo pushing to reopen companies primarily based on data that contradicted Facilities for Illness Management steering.
The letter additionally outlines questions in regards to the Trump administration’s strategy to herd immunity, vaccine distribution and controversial therapies like hydroxychloroquine. Democrats started investigating lots of these points final spring, and the letter particulars plans to proceed that probe.
The Home launched a Choose Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Disaster in April 2020. The bipartisan committee started investigative work final yr, however the Trump administration largely refused to cooperate with their probe. The committee issued subpoenas for former HHS Secretary Alex Azar and then-CDC Director Robert Redfield in December 2020, however these subpoenas had been ignored.
Democrats have vowed to proceed their probe into the actions of the earlier administration whereas offering oversight over the continued response to the continued disaster.
