Although he was careful in Thursday’s testimony to avoid political attacks, Bright asserted that Trump’s “obsession” with hydroxychloroquine was “extremely distracting.” There was little ambiguity to Bright’s words. Bowen had a simple message for Bright: “We’re in deep s***.”
WASHINGTON — Testifying before the House of Representatives Thursday morning, Rick Bright, a federal scientist who alleges that he has been sidelined by the Trump administration, warned that “our window of opportunity is closing” to stop the coronavirus, and without quick action it will return in autumn with redoubled force.
“We need this comprehensive national strategy,” he said, speaking from a hearing room where many of those present wore protective face masks and where tables held large bottles of hand sanitizer. Until last month, Bright was the head of BARDA, which conducts high-level research into bioweapons and disease outbreaks. In a whistleblower complaint filed on May 5, Bright alleged he was relegated to a lesser post within the federal Department of Health and Human Services for sounding alarms about hydroxychloroquine, an experimental treatment for the coronavirus promoted by President Trump. Bright said his demotion was engineered by Kadlec, the high-ranking HHS deputy.
The statement also attempted to treat his removal from the BARDA directorship as a promotion of sorts and accused him of malingering.
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