Rep. Wenstrup threatens subpoena of FBI, HHS to obtain information on illegal Chinese lab in California

Washington, D.C. – Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic Chairman Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) is threatening to subpoena the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) after both government entities failed to produce information related to an illegal Chinese lab operating on U.S. soil as requested. Prestige Biotech, a Chinese company, was caught red-handed conducting dangerous research related to COVID-19 and other deadly diseases without a license by FBI agents and California officials. 

Following the egregious discovery, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials inspected the lab and evaluated the bio-security threat posed to Americans.
 
Both the FBI and HHS have substantial documents and communications that will shed light on the legality, functions, and contents of this unlicensed lab. And if responses are not provided on or before September 14, 2023, Chairman Wenstrup will be forced to consider a subpoena.
 
“To properly carry-out the Select Subcommittee’s missions, including assessing the government’s ability to keep America safe from biological threats and assessing legislative solutions regarding biosafety and biosecurity, we must have the full cooperation of federal agencies. If the Department fails to comply with our legitimate oversight requests, we will be forced to evaluate the use of the compulsory process,” wrote Chairman Wenstrup. “Therefore, we write to you today to reiterate our requests in our previous letter. Please provide the following documents and information as soon as possible but no later than September 14, 2023.”