Congressman Krishnamoorthi Questions Former Coronavirus Response Coordinator Birx On Trump White House Embrace Of COVID Misinformation

WASHINGTON – In today's Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis hearing with Trump White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx, Congressman Krishnamoorthi questioned Dr. Birx on the embrace of COVID misinformation and discredited health claims by President Trump and members of his inner circle over the protests of many doctors and scientists in the administration. Over the course of their discussion, the Congressman touched on Dr. Birx's horror at President Trump's suggestion that injecting bleach and sunlight might be miracle cures for the virus. The Congressman also pressed Dr. Birx on her estimate that more than 130,000 American lives could have been saved through the first year of the pandemic if President Trump had implemented proven coronavirus mitigation measures.

"Dr. Birx's testimony today was another disturbing look at the deadly costs of scientific and health care expertise being shoved aside in favor of discredited claims and pure misinformation," said Congressman Krishnamoorthi. "As Dr. Birx has said herself, the failure of the Trump Administration to follow well-established practices for disease mitigation and the failure to provide the public with the best available information cost more than 130,000 Americans their lives. I urge the Biden Administration, my colleagues in Congress, and our partners at every level of government to heed this warning by listening to experts and embracing every public health tool at their disposal."

Footage of Congressman Krishnamoorthi's questioning of Dr. Birx is available here.