House investigation launched into suspected Chinese black market biolab in California.
Investigation Launched into Suspected Illegal California Biolab
Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio), chairman of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, is investigating a suspected illegal California biolab that is owned by Chinese firm Prestige Biotech—to determine if it was involved in dangerous research or other activities related to COVID-19 in America.
In March, local officials first inspected the facility located in an otherwise abandoned warehouse in Reedley, California, because they suspected it contained “various dangerous chemicals and/or materials in their unpermitted laboratory activities in the locked portion of the structure that may pose serious health and safety risks.”
The initial inspection found several hundred laboratory mice—being kept in unsafe conditions—that appeared to have been genetically altered to both catch and communicate the deadly virus that has killed more than 1 million Americans since January 2020.
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In April 23 letters to Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra and FBI Director Christopher Wray, Mr. Wenstrup said he was initiating the investigation because “it is highly concerning that an unlicensed lab operated by a Chinese company on American soil was apparently conducting dangerous research involving COVID-19 and other viruses.”
Mr. Wenstrup told Mr. Wray that his panel is “committed to investigating the origin of COVID-19, but also assessing the federal government’s ability to keep America safe from biological threats.
“This assessment is critical to bolstering our ability to prepare for and prevent future pandemics.
“Further, it is clear from court documents that the bureau is involved in this matter. Therefore, we request documents and communications relevant to our inquiry and in the custody and control of the bureau.”
In his letter to Mr. Becerra, Mr. Wenstrup pointed out that “between May 2 and 4, 2023, staff from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Division of Select Agents and Toxins inspected the lab and determined at least 20 potentially infectious agents were stored under inadequate conditions.
“This included chlamydia trachomatis, E. coli, Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 and 2 (HIV), Malaria, and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, known as COVID-19).”
Mr. Wenstrup added that an individual claiming to be a representative of the Chinese firm had provided statements that were founded to be false, including that there were no infectious agents stored at the facility.
Previously, The Epoch Times reported that Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Rep. Jim Acosta (D-Calif.) asked the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) to determine how and why Universal Meditech, which is controlled by Prestige and oversaw the facility, was granted two Payment Protection Program (PPP) loans of $74,912 each in April 2020 and February 2021.
Universal Meditech was also awarded a $360,000 tax credit in 2018 under California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s CalCompetes GO-Biz program, although the company failed to meet guidelines and never actually received those funds, The Epoch Times’ Brad Jones reported.
The facility was first discovered in December 2022 when Jesalyn Harper, a local code enforcement official, noticed something amiss.
Ms. Harper told The Epoch Times that she inspected the building after receiving an anonymous complaint about a possible business operating in the warehouse, which was thought to be vacant at the time.
The FBI was alerted and prompted to take action.
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