Suspension of doctor at center of COVID theory sparks MAGA celebration

The suspension of a doctor at the center of a COVID-19 theory has sparked celebration from many conservatives and supporters of the MAGA movement.

In a Wednesday post to X, formerly Twitter, the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic said, “Last night, based partially on evidence uncovered in @COVIDSelect’s recent staff report and public hearing, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [HHS] commenced individual debarment proceedings against Dr. Peter Daszak, President of EcoHealth Alliance, Inc.”

“Dr. Daszak’s individual debarment will prevent him from receiving funds from the U.S. taxpayer,” the post said, which included an image showing HHS notifying Daszak of his suspension.

In a statement to Newsweek, an HHS spokesperson said, “HHS doesn’t comment on personnel matters. HHS is committed to the letter and spirit of the Freedom of Information Act and adherence to federal records management requirements. It is HHS policy that all personnel conducting business for, and on behalf of, HHS refrain from using personal email accounts to conduct HHS business.”

Daszak has been at the heart of a significant controversy surrounding the origins of COVID-19 and the use of federal funds for virus research. On May 15, HHS announced the suspension of all federal funding to EcoHealth Alliance and initiated debarment proceedings against the organization, citing serious breaches of grant requirements and concerns about the safety and oversight of their research activities.

The Context

Under Daszak’s leadership, EcoHealth Alliance has conducted extensive research on bat coronaviruses, including work at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. This research has been linked to the theory that COVID-19 may have originated from a lab leak, a hypothesis that has gained traction among some scientists and politicians.

What We Know

The decision by HHS to suspend funding and propose debarment of EcoHealth Alliance came after accusations that the organization failed to properly monitor the research it funded at the Wuhan lab. Specifically, EcoHealth allegedly did not promptly report experimental results that indicated enhanced viral growth in hybrid viruses created during their studies.

In a statement to Newsweek, a spokesperson for EcoHealth Alliance said “EHA did its best” to submit a report of experimental research on time “but was delayed due to technical difficulties.”

“EcoHealth Alliance provided the Government Accountability Office with documentation regarding this alleged late reporting that showed the experimental results were first reported in the Year 4 report, which was submitted into the NIH [National Institutes of Health] system on time in April 2018, with a copy emailed to the NIAID [National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases] Program Officer at that time,” the spokesperson said.

“The Year 5 report was uploaded into the NIH system, but then locked out from full submission and NIH did not respond to requests from EcoHealth staff to enable full submission,” they said. “However, NIH program staff were made aware of the results of the experiments because these were fully laid out in the ‘preliminary data’ sections of the renewal proposal submitted in November 2018.”

Views

Following the announcement by the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, a number of Republicans applauded the decision.

“EcoHealth President Dr. Daszak will no longer receive taxpayer dollars. We cannot award putting the American people in danger with taxpayer $$$,” Arizona Republican Representative Debbie Lesko wrote.

Committee chairman, Representative Brad Wenstrup, said, “EcoHealth Alliance President Dr. Peter Daszak’s personal debasement will ensure he never again receives a single cent from U.S. taxpayers nor has the opportunity to start a new, untrustworthy organization.”

Republican Congressman Michael Cloud said, “Good … HHS is suspending federal funding for Peter Daszak, one of the key leaders in covering up the federal health bureaucracy’s involvement in the Wuhan lab and COVID-19. More accountability to come.”

What’s Next

EcoHealth Alliance faces an immediate government-wide suspension of federal funding, and formal debarment proceedings are underway. This action halts all active grants and prevents the organization from receiving any new federal funds.

The Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic continues to investigate EcoHealth and the origins of COVID-19, with Daszak and his team required to produce outstanding documents and respond to further inquiries.

Update, 05/22/24, 3:20 p.m. EST: This article has been updated with further information.

Update, 05/23/24, 7:04 a.m. EST: This article has been updated to include a statement from the HHS.

Update, 05/24/24, 7:20 a.m. EST: This article has been updated to include a statement from EcoHealth Alliance.