WASHINGTON, D.C. - Judicial Watch has recently filed a lawsuit under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The lawsuit seeks records and communications between various DHS component offices and the U.S. Biological Defense Program.
The focus of the lawsuit is a $2 million grant that was reportedly awarded by the DHS's Ground Truth Network to EcoHealth Alliance. The case is titled Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security. There have been allegations that EcoHealth Alliance has been involved in utilizing tax dollars for coronavirus research, including "gain-of-function" studies, conducted at the Wuhan Institute for Virology and other locations in China.
Tom Fitton, the President of Judicial Watch, said there should be a thorough examination of the U.S. government's grant to EcoHealth Alliance for biosafety purposes, particularly in light of the ongoing controversy surrounding gain-of-function research in Wuhan.
The lawsuit involves the National Biosurveillance Integration Center (NBIC) and the Office of Health Affairs, both of which are components of the U.S. Biological Defense Program under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). According to Judicial Watch, the program aims to enhance the country's readiness against chemical and biological threats by improving threat awareness, implementing advanced surveillance and detection measures, and developing responsive countermeasures. The Ground Truth Network was reportedly established within the National Biosurveillance Integration Center.
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The lawsuit was filed by Judicial Watch because DHS did not respond to a FOIA request made on February 17, 2023.
In the lawsuit, the records and communications of certain individuals, including Heather Poindexter, LCDR Reajul Mojumder, and Teresa Quitugua, related to the Ground Truth Network Project and the corresponding procurement identification numbers (PIIDs) HSHQDC16C00113, HSHQDC16C00113, and HSHQDC-16-R-00116, are being requested from the National Biosurveillance Integration Center (NBIC), Office of Health Affairs, Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Judicial Watch says EcoHealth Alliance collaborates with NBIC analysts through various forms of communication, including written documents such as emails, reports, maps, and data. They also engage in oral communication through phone calls and conference calls, as well as face-to-face meetings.
The lawsuit asks for the requests for information (RFIs) that were sent to EcoHealth Alliance and any corresponding responses from EcoHealth Alliance.
It also requests the documents that provide information about the Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) who are accessible to NBIC, as well as the procedures for engaging in direct and indirect communication with them.
The lawsuit also aims to obtain documents that inquire about the credibility of the source(s) from whom information was obtained under the Ground Truth Network and how it was assessed.
Additionally, the lawsuit seeks more information about DHS-issued concurrences and/or closeout letters to EcoHealth Alliance.
Finally, the lawsuit also requests the communications and interface between DHS NBIC employees and the DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis (DHS I&A) regarding the construction or editing of the Ground Truth Network RFP, grant, or contract, as well as the information shared between NBIC and DHS I&A that was received from EcoHealth Alliance or Ground Truth Network.
Based on information from the USASpending.gov federal database, a grant was awarded to EcoHealth Alliance in September 2016. The grant had a listed end date of October 2022. Out of the total potential award of $2.1 million, a sum of $974,298 was granted. The closure occurred in October 2021.
According to USASpending,gov, Lt. Commander Reajul Mojumder, a Project Officer at DHS's Bio-Preparedness Collaboratory, Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction office, was responsible for overseeing the grant to EcoHealth Alliance. Mojumder was succeeded by Teresa Quitugua, who became the deputy director and chief scientist of the National Biosurveillance Integration Center in Maryland.
Through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Judicial Watch has reportedly obtained a significant amount of information regarding the COVID-19 controversy. This includes details about the involvement of EcoHealth Alliance in conducting bat coronavirus research in China, which has been labeled as "gain-of-function" research. It is worth noting that this research was funded by U.S. tax dollars.
HHS records obtained by Judicial Watch contain the initial grant application and annual reports submitted by EcoHealth Alliance to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). These documents reportedly describe the objective of their collaboration with the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China, which involves the creation of mutant viruses. The purpose of this research was reportedly to enhance our understanding of the infectivity of coronaviruses in humans.
According to HHS records, emails of the former Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Francis Collins, revealed that a British physicians' group suggested the utilization of Ivermectin for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.
Other HHS records obtained by Judicial Watch indicate that a discussion took place between U.S. and UK health regulators regarding the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and its potential side effect of anaphylaxis. This discussion allegedly occurred shortly before the FDA approved the vaccine. The regulators allegedly emphasized their commitment to maintaining confidentiality during this conversation.
Judicial Watch further acquired other HHS records related to the data provided by Moderna to the FDA regarding its mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. The records indicated that a notable number of rats exhibited skeletal deformities after their mothers received the vaccine, which was deemed statistically significant. The documents also indicated that Moderna chose not to perform several typical pharmacological studies on the laboratory test animals.
Redacted records from the FDA pertaining to the COVID-19 booster vaccine revealed pressured discussions and considerations related to the use and approval of COVID boosters.
The HHS has further documented internal discussions regarding myocarditis and the COVID vaccine. Additional documents provide information on adverse events where the potential influence of the vaccine cannot be ruled out.
According to Judicial Watch, HHS records have been discovered that outline media plans for a potential Biden administration campaign to promote the COVID-19 vaccine.
HHS records obtained by Judicial Watch recently disclosed previously withheld information about the locations of COVID-19 vaccine testing facilities in Shanghai, China. According to the FDA, the name and location of the testing facilities were considered confidential commercial information under the FOIA exemption.
According to alleged NIH records, there was an FBI "inquiry" regarding the bat coronavirus grant provided by the NIH, which was associated with the Wuhan Institute of Virology. According to the records, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) officials expressed concerns about "gain-of-function" research conducted at China's Wuhan Institute of Virology in 2016.
The Fauci agency expressed concerns regarding EcoHealth Alliance's adherence to reporting regulations and their utilization of gain-of-function research in NIH-funded studies related to bat coronaviruses in Wuhan, China.
According to alleged records from the Texas Public Information Act (PIA), Dr. James W. Le Duc, the former director of the Galveston National Laboratory at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), reportedly communicated with Chinese researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology about the possibility of investigations into the COVID issue by Congress.
Other HHS records obtained by Judicial Watch showed biodistribution studies on COVID-19 vaccines revealed that lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), a crucial component of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines, were detected in various organs such as the liver, adrenal glands, spleen, and ovaries of test animals within eight to 48 hours after injection.
According to records obtained from HHS through a different FOIA lawsuit, it was found that a grant to EcoHealth Alliance was cancelled due to press reports suggesting that a portion of the grant was provided to the Wuhan Institute of Virology in relation to hydroxychloroquine and COVID-19.
According to other HHS records, the NIAID provided $826,277 in funding to the Wuhan Institute of Virology for bat coronavirus research between 2014 and 2019.
According to NIAID records, nine grants were provided to EcoHealth Alliance for researching the emergence of coronaviruses in bats. Additionally, the NIH issued a significant number of grants to the Wuhan lab. The records also contained an email exchange between the vice director of the Wuhan Lab and an NIH official. In the email, the vice director requested assistance in locating disinfectants suitable for decontaminating airtight suits and indoor surfaces.
Other HHS records also contained an email chain labeled as "urgent for Dr. Fauci," which mentioned connections between the Wuhan lab and the EcoHealth Alliance, an organization funded by taxpayers.
According to the government emails contained in the records, the foundation of U.S. billionaire Bill Gates collaborated with the Chinese government to facilitate the global sale of Chinese medications and enhance China's influence in international councils by appointing Chinese representatives.
More HHS records obtained by Judicial Watch contain a grant application related to coronavirus research. The application discusses research activities such as RNA extractions from bats, experiments on viruses, attempts to develop a chimeric virus, and efforts to genetically manipulate the full-length bat SARSr-CoV WIV1 strain molecular clone.
In additional HHS records, it was indicated that both the State Department and NIAID were aware in January 2020 that China had not provided COVID data promptly. This delay in sharing information was seen as a challenge for public health officials in assessing risks and responding effectively.
Then, in HHS records obtained by The Daily Caller News Foundation, it appears that NIH officials made adjustments to confidentiality forms to align with China's requirements. Additionally, it has been reported that the World Health Organization (WHO) conducted a COVID-19 epidemiological analysis in January 2020, which has not been publicly released and is labeled as "strictly confidential."
The Fauci emails reveal his support for a press release that expressed approval of China's response to the 2019 novel coronavirus.
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