House Democrats ask Biden White House for documents related to alleged Trump administration political interference in Covid response

Arguing that the committee needs the documents to continue its investigation, the South Carolina Democratic congressman also alleged that new documents obtained by the committee show the Trump administration took “efforts to suppress science during the pandemic.” The documents include an email by former HHS senior adviser Paul Alexander where the committee alleges he “pressured Food and Drug Administration officials to quickly approve emergency use of convalescent plasma and advised them to disregard concerns” from Dr. Anthony Fauci and National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins.

CNN has reached out to the White House, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS and FDA for comment Monday.

He also requested documents related to coronavirus testing, the number of coronavirus hospitalizations and infections in the US, coronavirus data collections, herd immunity strategy, coronavirus vaccines and treatments, efforts by political appointees or White House personnel “to review, revise, edit, delay, or prohibit publication of any Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report or other CDC reports” about the virus, “any adverse employment action taken or considered” against employees, officials or federal contractors related to the pandemic.

In December, the committee subpoenaed then-HHS Secretary Alex Azar and then-CDC Director Robert Redfield for documents related to their investigation into alleged political interference. They warned the Trump administration officials that they had until December 30 to produce all the emails and communications related to the publication of a series of scientific reports. The committee first requested the documents in September, and Democrats said then they hit a roadblock with HHS and CDC in getting the documents and interviews needed complete their work.