The subpoenas, issued Dec. 21, require Mr. Azar and Dr. Redfield to provide documents the committee had previously requested.
“The subpoenas were necessary because the Select Subcommittee’s investigation has revealed that efforts to interfere with scientific work at CDC were far more extensive and dangerous than previously known,” Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., the committee’s chairman, wrote in a letter accompanying the subpoenas, according to WSJ.
The letter also mentioned emails recently released by the subcommittee showing former HHS official Paul Alexander, PhD, repeatedly pushed the HHS and the CDC to adopt a “herd immunity” approach to COVID-19 by exposing “infants, kids, teens,” and others to the virus.
HHS disputed the subcommittee’s allegations of political interference. A spokesperson said Dr. Alexander’s demands for herd immunity did not shape department strategy.
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