The House Select Subcommittee has obtained emails from the Trump White House investigating their pandemic response. They reveal how Trump's administration favored challenging the 2020 election results over its COVID-19 response. Win McNamee/Getty Images
Trump's administration emphasized challenging 2020 election results more than responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
These are the emails of Steven Hatfill, a viralologist who was involved in the Trump White House's COVID response.
A House Select Subcommittee obtained the emails to investigate the government's COVID-19 responses.
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According to documents obtained by a House Select Subcommittee investigation, the Trump administration prioritized the efforts of former President Donald Trump to challenge the election over fighting COVID-19 pandemic.
The House Select Subcommittee, which is currently probing the US government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, obtained emails from Steven Hatfill (virologist who advised White House Trade Director Peter Navarro) and shared them with The Washington Post.
Hatfill repeatedly refers to working on election issues rather than pandemic response in his correspondence.
Hatfill responded to a January 5th email from a George Washington University colleague asking why Hatfill wasn't "fixing" the virus. Hatfill stated that it was because of the election results dispute.
"Because of the election thing getting out of control. Hatfill replied, "I go where my team goes," Hatfill wrote.
Hatfill also indicated in emails that Hatfill had shifted his attention from the pandemic response to the election fraud investigation. He wrote in his correspondence that "the election stuff" was his primary focus.
It involved traveling to Arizona and emailing White House officials about a Dominion Voting Systems conspiracy. Navarro was also sent an email concerning a "Plan B For Trump Legal Fight" that was "For Rudy", which could be Rudy Giuliani, Trump's attorney.
There is no evidence that widespread voter fraud occurred in the 2020 election. Judges ruled against Trump's lawsuits alleging voter corruption in states such as Georgia, Nevada, Nevada, Pennsylvania.
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Hatfill's emails show that the Trump administration's COVID-19 reply was already in "back-seat," as Hatfill stated.
Hatfill sent an email in October to an unnamed colleague. The email was seen by the House Subcommittee.
"Throughout November and December 2020 the pandemic continued in the United States-with over 11 million new cases, and 132,770 deaths during those two months alone," stated James Clyburn (chair of the COVID-19 House Select Subcommittee), in a September 23 memorandum.
Clyburn wrote that "The Select Subcommittee seeks out to understand whether Trump White House officials working in the pandemic response diverted efforts from the coronavirus respond to invalidating 2020 election," Clyburn stated.
Clyburn stated that COVID-19 was responsible for nearly 200 deaths between Election Day, Inauguration Day and December 31, 2001.
Hatfill replied to The Washington Post's questions about the investigation by a statement. He wrote: "From my perspective, as a doctor, I was, as well as continue to be frustrated at public health being treated like a political football."
Hatfill stated that he was also disgusted by the destruction of The National Pandemic Plan at The Post's hands. This plan focused on community outreach and early treatment, and not panic vaccines or experimental vaccines.
"In truth, there is no way to know how many Americans are infected." Hatfill sent Navarro a February 29 letter stating that we expect the first wave of infected Americans to reach the US within seven days.
Hatfield was one of the first to raise the alarm about the pandemic. Hatfield informed his boss in a February 2020 email that he sent to Navarro, first reported by The Hill. He stated that coronavirus must be dealt with with honesty and direct action.
He suggested increased coronavirus testing, and that the National Guard assist with the distribution of the tests. Hatfill's recommendation was passed to Trump by Navarro but was not implemented.
Insider reached Hatfill for comment but he did not respond immediately.
Business Insider has the original article.
