The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party issued its first-ever subpoena for documents and records regarding a Chinese-owned bio-lab found in California.
“It is deeply disturbing that a Chinese company set up a clandestine facility in small-town America that contained, per the CDC, ‘at least 20 potentially infectious agents’ like HIV and the deadliest known form of malaria. We are grateful to the city of Reedley for their cooperation,” said Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), chair of the committee, referring to the subpoena that was issued last week.
“The American people deserve answers, and we will get to the bottom of this issue to ensure our adversaries are not endangering the safety of Americans on our soil.”
Responding to the subpoena, officials of Reedley, where the bio-lab was found, have turned over thousands of pages of documents, hundreds of photos, and hours of video, according to a Politico report.
The joint investigation panel led by Committee Chairman Mike Gallagher, with the House Energy & Commerce Committee, is reviewing these materials.
After the secret lab story was first reported by a local media outlet in July, grave concerns about biosecurity were raised. Especially since the company Prestige Biotech, formerly Universal Meditech Inc. was owned by Chinese and Chinese-Canadians.
Thousands of vials of bacterial and viral agents, including coronavirus, chlamydia, E. coli, streptococcus pneumonia, HIV, hepatitis, herpes, rubella, and malaria, were discovered at the site. Nearly 1,000 lab mice were found in poor condition, and hundreds of rats were dead.
Reedley City, Fresno County and multiple agencies from State and Federal levels have joined the investigation of the lab. The business of the company has completely shut down due to all products, including COVID-19 virus test kits and pregnancy test kits being recalled by the DEA.
How Universal Meditech Inc. operated in Tulare from 2015 transformed from an agriculture-oriented company, to Prestige Biotech, a bio company producing test kits for humans in 2019 remains a mystery.
Late public awareness was troublesome, while the code violation of the company in Reeley was found back in December 2022, the Federal Bureau of Investigation told local officials to “stand by,” according to Reedley local officials. They were told by federal and state authorities not to speak publicly about the investigation, due to protocol.
