Staff Reports
In a groundbreaking move, the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party has issued its very first subpoena demanding documents and records related to a Chinese-owned bio-lab that was discovered in California. Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), the committee’s chair, expressed his deep concern about the situation, stating, “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.”
Rep. Gallagher’s main goal is to uncover the truth behind this alarming discovery and ensure that the safety of the American people is not compromised on their own soil. He firmly believes that the American people deserve answers and that it is the duty of the committee to get to the bottom of this matter.
In response to the subpoena, officials of Reedley, where the bio-lab was located, have promptly handed over thousands of pages of documents, hundreds of photos, and hours of video footage. These materials are now being carefully reviewed by the joint investigation panel led by Rep. Gallagher, along with the House Energy & Commerce Committee.
The existence of this secret lab came to light when it was initially reported by a local media outlet in July. This revelation has sparked widespread concerns about biosecurity, especially given the fact that the company behind the lab, previously known as Universal Meditech Inc. and now called Prestige Biotech, was owned by Chinese and Chinese-Canadians.
Upon further investigation, thousands of vials containing bacterial and viral agents, including coronavirus, chlamydia, E. coli, streptococcus pneumonia, HIV, hepatitis, herpes, rubella, and malaria, were discovered at the site. Shockingly, nearly 1,000 lab mice were found in deplorable conditions, and hundreds of rats were found dead.
“It is deeply disturbing that a Chinese company set up a clandestine facility in small-town America that contained," @RepGallagher said after issuing a subpoena for Chinese biolab in California .
"The American people deserve answers."https://t.co/1Q0RnXmj3U
— Eva Fu (@EvaSailEast) September 14, 2023
Reedley City, Fresno County, and multiple state and federal agencies have all joined forces in investigating this lab and its activities. Additionally, the business of Prestige Biotech has been completely shut down, as all products, including COVID-19 virus test kits and pregnancy test kits, have been recalled by the DEA.
The transformation of Universal Meditech Inc. from an agriculture-oriented company to Prestige Biotech, a bio company that produces test kits for humans, in just a few years remains a mystery. It is evident that there were serious code violations at the Reedley location as far back as December 2022. However, local officials claim that they were instructed by federal and state authorities to remain silent about the investigation, which has only recently come to public awareness.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has also voiced his concern about the Chinese-run lab during his visit to Clovis. McCarthy has called for a thorough investigation to uncover the truth behind this alarming situation.
In addition to the House Select Committee on the CCP, the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic has also threatened to issue subpoenas to the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services if they refuse to provide information regarding the Reedley lab by September 14. This shows the committee’s determination to shed light on the matter and hold those responsible accountable for their actions.
