KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The attorneys general for Kansas and Missouri are among 18 state attorneys general who signed a letter to U.S. congressional leaders asking for an investigation in the Chinese government’s role with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The letter, which was dated May 9 and addressed to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi among others, requests a formal congressional hearing in allegations that China “willfully and knowingly concealed information about the severity of the virus while simultaneously stockpiling personal protective equipment."
Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt and Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, who filed a lawsuit against the Chinese government last month, were joined by 16 other Republican attorneys general.
According to the letter, “many of us are considering similar legal actions” to Schmitt’s lawsuit against China.
Among the complaints alleged in the letter are that Chinese health officials were censored and that the U.S. was targeted with propaganda, including a disinformation campaign and “suspicious gifts” to governmental authorities and universities.
“During this same period, COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on our states and the Nation,” according to the letter. “We must all hold China accountable for the devastation and destruction caused by COVID-19. Tens of thousands have died from the virus and millions have lost their jobs. Countless businesses, both big and small, will perish and our states will grapple with tough economic decisions for years to come.”
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