Scalise Statement on Democrats’ Azar and Redfield Subpoenas

WASHINGTON—Today, Republican Whip and Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis Ranking Member Steve Scalise (R-La.) issued the following statement on the Democrats’ subpoenas issued to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield.

“Today’s subpoenas are just for show. Issuing midnight subpoenas that turn into pumpkins in less than two weeks will not speed up production of the tens of thousands of documents HHS has already produced.  HHS has already produced over 15,000 documents and continues to produce documents to the Select Subcommittee. Even though witness testimony has already slammed shut the notion of any political interference in CDC scientific reports, Democrats continue to search for imaginary evidence of improper political influence in the Trump Administration’s whole-of-America pandemic response.  Democrats should cease their partisan antics and instead focus on contributing to America’s recovery.”

On December 10, Select Subcommittee Republicans released excerpts from Dr. Charlotte Kent’s transcribed interview confirming there was no political interference in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports (MMWR). Dr. Kent is a career CDC official and the editor-in-chief of the MMWR.

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