Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA), and Subcommittee on Health Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY), along with Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic Chair Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) and House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chair James Comer (R-KY), have secured a voluntary transcribed interview with EcoHealth Alliance (EHA) President Dr. Peter Daszak that will take place on November 14, 2023. This interview is an important step in the Committees’ investigation into EHA’s use of U.S. taxpayer dollars to fund dangerous gain-of-function research, specifically at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV). 

As mounting evidence and intelligence intensify concerns about the possible release of the COVID-19 pandemic from a laboratory incident in Wuhan, Dr. Daszak’s testimony will be critical to helping the Committees obtain information related to the origins of COVID-19 and any role EHA may have played.  

In preparation for the transcribed interview, the Chairs are reiterating requests for Dr. Daszak’s communications and documents related to coronavirus research, the Chinese government, the Wuhan Institute of Virology, and any coordination with U.S. governmental organizations. If Dr. Daszak fails to comply with pre-interview requests, the Committees will be forced to consider the use of a subpoena to obtain this crucial COVID-19 origins information. 

“In anticipation of the interview, we renew our requests for certain responsive documents and communications. This letter consolidates our previous requests regarding the origins of COVID-19 and, as a further accommodation, tables some requests, adds significant topic specificity, scopes down the time frame of our previous requests, and prioritizes the requests most important to the Committees. Notwithstanding these accommodations, the Committees reserve the right to request additional documents and communications,” wrote the Chairs.  

CLICK HERE to read the Committees’ letter to Dr. Peter Daszak.