'That's Not Even Close To What I Asked': Dem Staff Grills EcoHealth Alliance President Peter Daszak

At a House Select Subcommittee hearing on the coronavirus pandemic on Wednesday, Democratic staff questioned EcoHealth Alliance President Peter Daszak about his work in China and the coronavirus.
Fuel your success with Forbes. Gain unlimited access to premium journalism, including breaking news, groundbreaking in-depth reported stories, daily digests and more. Plus, members get a front-row seat at members-only events with leading thinkers and doers, access to premium video that can help you get ahead, an ad-light experience, early access to select products including NFT drops and more:
account.forbes...
Stay Connected
Forbes on Facebook: forbes
Forbes Video on Twitter: / forbes
Forbes Video on Instagram: / forbes
More From Forbes: forbes.com

[@JMAC123]

It’s a word salad. He needs to be in prison for CRIMES AAINST HUMANITY

[@user-qm8bc4bu1t]

Aainst?

[@marraz1308]

Anyone one else thinking cover up?

[@denysvlasenko1865]

The key phrase in Lancet letter is this: "We stand together to strongly condemn conspiracy theories suggesting that COVID-19 does not have a natural origin." It says that any scientist who even suggests that "maybe, possibly, the virus is from a lab", is not simply wrong - he is to be condemned, ostracized, his career is finished. IOW: the letter was a successful attempt to suppress scientific discussions in that direction.

[@denysvlasenko1865]

What is remarkable is that *this same man*, Peter Daszak, proposed to DARPA to make exactly this type of virus in a lab! - "Project DEFUSE was a DARPA grant application, that proposed to sample bat coronaviruses from various locations in China. Co-investigators on the proposal included the EcoHealth Alliance's Peter Daszak, Ralph Baric from UNC, Linfa Wang from Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore, and Shi Zhengli from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. The grantees proposed to evaluate the ability of bat viruses to infect human cells in the laboratory using chimeric coronaviruses which were mutated in different locations." Not only it proposed to do that, it proposed to do that in cooperation WITH EXACTLY THE SAME LAB which is now suspected to leak the virus!

[@denysvlasenko1865]

IOW: "Anyone pushing a theory that someone did what we ourselves proposed to do a few years ago - should be strongly condemned!"

[@denysvlasenko1865]

What is remarkable is that *this same man*, Peter Daszak, proposed to DARPA to make exactly this type of virus in a lab. (Search for "Project DEFUSE" to know more because UT censors a longer explanation of it). Not only DEFUSE proposed to do that, it proposed to do that in cooperation WITH EXACTLY THE SAME LAB which is now suspected to leak the virus!

[@denysvlasenko1865]

What is remarkable is that *this same man*, Peter Daszak, proposed to DARPA to make exactly this type of v`rus in a lab. Not only he proposed to do that, he proposed to do that in cooperation WITH EXACTLY THE SAME LAB which is now suspected to leak the virus!

[@dantheanimator5072]

“It like, totally just happened. We were like oh WOW, man” - The Machine

[@clthornsbury4192]

So its all true. When they deny it so feverishly, they lyin.

[@user-qm8bc4bu1t]

Its?

[@guitargod6997]

Daszak is what we in the medical field call a BS artist. Don't forget to flush!

[@doctorberkowitz]

He's so full of it.

[@jackoneil3933]

The gentleman doth protest too much methinks...

[@hemihead001]

Everyone is climbing over each other now to claim innocent after they raked in the cash .

[@playtilithertz]

This guy is a Murderer, plain and simple...?

[@chrisgaffney7265]

Corruption

[@tomtom4095]

Dr D is a slippery one. The questioner is smart and informed and can corner Dr D. If I am on the Jury, I would reject Dr. D's testimony and his opinions.

[@jammin1881]

Wait for Fauci. He makes Daszacks look amateur.

[@doctorberkowitz]

Emotionally composed and articulate too. The questioner.

[@jammin1881]

@@doctorberkowitz They are all slippery liars. Guilty of perjury and having started a pandemic. Their risky research cost millions of lives.

[@jeffdianebald]

How does anyone trust anyone “we” are supposed to trust ever again?

[@KyleDownsFTW]

People in power would never lie, rite?

[@dantheanimator5072]

I can’t even answer without my YTHandler deleting it

[@IAmWithinEverything]

We won’t

[@doctorberkowitz]

We don't. That's why society is going nuts.

[@NeoN-PeoN]

There was a theory that it came from snake DNA? What?

[@dantheanimator5072]

They are going down the animal list like our gov’s are going down the marginalized list

[@annwiseone]

check out dr A r dis he sights NIH and other gov studies!

[@SHyoutube.]

Will that weasel be jailed?

[@utah_koidragon7117]

He's still receiving millions every year in taxpayer money to conduct this kind of research.

[@SHyoutube.]

@@utah_koidragon7117 Wow, he is still holding his position? We cant trust anyone

[@utah_koidragon7117]

@@SHyoutube. Still holds his position, his organization is still receiving taxpayer funding, and it's still promoting and funding dangerous gain of function research.

[@SHyoutube.]

@@utah_koidragon7117 Insane!

[@jammin1881]

Nope. The US is funding the same sciences and don't care. The bioweapons programs continue and same with the defence programs. Nothing will happen and the lives of millions destroyed or taken.

[@louisaforeman1470]

I love this Representive. He knows his ‘stuff’.

[@33andathird]

He clearly doesn't like being challenged and is used to taking a bullying tone to subdue those that try it. It didn't work with the guy putting questions here.

[@doctorberkowitz]

Absolutely. 100%narcissist who insists on dominating everyone around him. Talking over people starting with the word, "listen" is usually a good indication. The finger tenting too.

[@khammerly]

He is trying to blame NIH for him submitting inadequate documents on HIS OWN RESEARCH, AND MISLED THEM TO GET APPROVAL FOR THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS RESEARCH

[@richardcallihan9746]

The Final conclusion should be, it is best not to fool with Mother Nature.!!!

[@betterd9160]

Correct

[@guitargod6997]

These individuals are arrogant "scientists" who often are narcissistic like Drs. Fauci and Criss. Or our "octogenarian' warmed over mildly demented narcs for the second time....We are doomed.

[@jammin1881]

What's funnier still were the future prophets who knew there was a virus primed for emergence in 2016 and Fauci who knew (prophetically) that the coming administration would see a "surprise outbreak." 🤣

[@criticality2056]

This guy is defiant, arrogant and evasive. Why does he deserve funding?

[@michaelblackburn498]

Because he's friends with Fauci, and he asked for it nicely enough? Is that not good enough? Umm... look over there?

[@doctorberkowitz]

British accent.

[@brianmcalister1730]

Those are conspiracy theories cuz I said so, what's wrong with you. Said the liar.

[@marksquires5022]

While listening to this guy talk a word comes to mind that I haven't heard in decades; Haughtiness.

[@tomjones5418]

What a childish attitude. Embarrassing.

[@johnhale9697]

It's well known that COVID was being worked on at the WU HAN LAB and DID NOT HAVE A GOOD RECORD AND IT DID HAVE LEAKS NOT A CONSPIRACY

[@blessedfire365xgf]

What about the bio lab in Montana and other places will we have repeats?

[@kalebli5502]

Northern Cali...Bio dumps.

[@Somebody2883]

3 Persian rugs were made from the elaborate weaving of bullshit coming from this obvious liar.

[@BigGoucho]

Persian. From Persia.

[@Somebody2883]

@@BigGoucho Thank you, stupid auto correct.....

[@blessedfire365xgf]

Everything that was told makes the virus stronger

[@blessedfire365xgf]

Question is not the problem arest and conviction please for mandates for not helping only hurting we the people of the united states of America the mustang the farmers the family the ranchers emergency resources freedom

[@MrAustin61]

Did we just find a sensible democrat? Also can Forbes drop their banner at some point?

[@isrbillmeyer]

He has his strawman and he will pretend that is the only alternative and force any question to fit in a way that he can use his strawman in his reply

[@keithkinkelaar3334]

There's a reason people left Britain to form their own nation.

[@Si_Mondo]

Because they were Puritans; the sort of believers St Paul warned us about (the legalists), and frankly, we were sick of their shit. Glad to see they made something of themselves, though. 😅

[@juliecarveth9802]

Wish Dr Dave Martin could question Dasak

[@chrisgaffney7265]

@@TheMegaelectronic 🤣😂..’what kind of doctorate degree does he have..’ you don’t need a degree to smell corruption and no accountability of corrupt government officials

[@paigewheeler1269]

This guy is insufferable

[@nonyabisness-cg7mf]

We don’t need to partner with other countries regarding American health policies. Share your data. We will go from there.

[@jareddorn]

This guy is a snake

[@doctorberkowitz]

Maybe the virus contains his DNA.

[@billybrown9401]

This guy is far too smug and arrogant to be a scientist. It’s time for him to be retired.

[@fearlessjoebanzai]

To Forbes "breaking news" - you don't have to have that box at the bottom of picture for the entirety of the video. You should bring it up intermittently, so that we can see the names of the members in the committee - especially as you don't include them in the description (which is poor form itself).

[@telebruel]

Mate Dr Daszac - what a number this dude is. What an absolute number

[@tomshanahan2438]

Horrible liars

[@louisaforeman1470]

The word ‘snake’ really threw him! What a weasel.

[@buena4343]

"In vivo" isn't Chinese, it's Latin!!! All lab scientist around the world now this word and it's meaning.

[@paulfaber849]

Very good line of questioning and an argumentative witness where again the "expert" don't look so bright, honest or forthcoming 🤔

[@isrbillmeyer]

"Prevailing theories" Translation: Carefully selected examples and made into strawmen arguments to exclude everything else

[@doctorberkowitz]

They prevail because they're his, and he is better than you and me.

[@burnhamsghost8044]

Shocked that Dems are actually digging on this

[@areaallstars]

Why has this person not been arrested?

[@georgepotter353]

Does anybody with a brain cell remember hearing that the virus came from a snake ?

[@jammin1881]

It was to portray the lab leak origins as conspiracy and downplay his role in funding the death of millions.

[@michaelscully7303]

Dasak is ten pounds of it in a five pound bag.

[@doctorberkowitz]

haha

[@lynndelgado4591]

Defund NIH

[@Nobody-xg2un]

Fauchi tongued this dude's sack, then there was a ton of money moved around and then there was more tounging.

[@Jimjim-r9j]

Kesha sends her ❤️

[@IAmWithinEverything]

Oh but there was evidence.

[@Jimjim-r9j]

Run chicken run

[@laj382]

Daszak and Fauci should be held accountable.

[@betterd9160]

That guy has been infected with snake and arrogance variants

[@Jimjim-r9j]

Tick tock im not on a cellphone

[@MartinCymru]

Discovery....all need to understand this Legal protocol

[@etcomehome39]

Daszak can’t remember when he submitted the 5-year report; it’s really hard to keep all the lies straight.

[@MFJoneser]

He can’t comprehend the possibility of his own complicity which is a bit concerning. I don’t think he’s ill-intentioned, but has some character issues that seem risky. Exquisite questions here. What a mess though.

[@normanswazo8586]

Great work from the staff person for his questions with reference to EcoHealth reporting on various experiments. Most telling is the last part of the Q&A when it was unclear whether there was a new experiment undertaken at WIV and which Daszak thinks is a post-experiment analysis, despite there being extra days of analyzed data. To trust his WIV scientists-colleagues that they did not conduct a new experiment is simply excessive under the circumstances of the hypothesis that the pandemic originated in a lab leak from WIV performing experiments at BSL-2 rather than at BSL-3 which Dr Baric noted was entirely unacceptable from US Biosafety SOP. Daszak continues to hold the line protecting EcoHealth and virologists who champion the natural spillover hypothesis despite evidence to the contrary. It is long past time that EcoHealth be barred from NIH research grants-in the interest of global public health.

[@Jimjim-r9j]

Blah blah blah, he forgot his wig what a fool

[@tnolan3176]

All about the money !!

[@lynndelgado4591]

This guys questions is great.. he seems very knowledgeable

[@cmalschafsky]

Peter Daszak the father of the covid virus should be jailed for life. He is very defensive meaning he has something to hide.

[@markarmage3776]

That literally shows you have no understanding of the case whatsoever. Even if the virus was a result of his GROUP research, the fault was not with the guy because the entire field is unregulated, what he did wasn't illegal at all. The problem is with your Defense Department, which is run and staffed by your corrupt politicians. They give funding for dangerous research, and they know those research are dangerous, that's why they fund it. Find someone better to blame. If this guy is guilty of anything, he's guilty of hiding the existing of his research and then potentially misleading the public. But the unregulated nature of the field is your fault, the voter's fault for paying extremely little attention to science and technology regulation.

[@micc6462]

Hard to watch

[@user-si7wh8up3s]

Vulture is good at diarrhea of the mouth!

[@user-si7wh8up3s]

And not to forget animal cruelty!!!!!

[@dfortini1056]

Smooth criminal, at least he may see himself that way.

[@ruth4thetruth334]

Liar

[@annenymety209]

This smug em eff..

[@angiejefferys5779]

Apparently this scientist became stupid all of a sudden

[@MartinCymru]

scouser

[@ritalamsley6846]

So why use human cells if its not being considered for bio weapon

[@Jimjim-r9j]

Cool story bro

[@ritalamsley6846]

There was things shared on face book the public should be shown fact or fiction people watched them and find the truth

[@Jimjim-r9j]

Whatba buch of rigamaro or whatever old fig

[@zorfaV-ziqtys-7nofda]

It’s normal in science to lie to people, but he doesn’t think people had reason to lie.

[@Jimjim-r9j]

Catch thay run away chicken

[@antoniovillanueva308]

I am laughing at a human disaster of epic scale. Why am I laughing? Because the perpetrators are being cornered and they sound like the toddler that ate the cookies. This must be exposed.

[@Toms_Bright_Ideas]

Daszak is CIA EcoHealth Alliance is a front for the CIA

[@allanmcdowall6568]

Hes a bit of fuel waiting to be lit.hes raging man.

[@deborahd.7281]

20,000 people out of 8,500,000,000 signed it.

[@MartinCymru]

educated 20 mins by bus from my home town in N Wales

[@Jimjim-r9j]

You have no tail what are you hiding from little man

[@lchristian1696]

The funder failed. They had poor requirements and the grant managers similar to HUD and FEMA issues - this is a failure of oversight and the grantee is now being blamed in hindsight when they were clearly responsive to NIH.

[@user-si7wh8up3s]

Vulture is illiterate!

[@carolynryan8305]

Peter the Pomme is pure Evil. Our Lord is forgiving & gracious, so if & when Pete & his corrupt buddies, cease to lie, & are truly sorry for allowing themselves to "love the money" they have been paid, maybe they will admit their involvement in the greatest crime against humanity, & seek forgiveness!? The people who are asking the questions, need to take some advice from someone like Dr David Martin, & ask more pertinent & relative QUESTIONS!? A concerned Aussie.

[@explore-n]

remind the movie My Uncle Vinny. how Pesci tried to figure out the way a court is working. at least he was funny, this guy is just sad

[@criticality2056]

Translation problem? Ok. Stop funding if we can control for that. Interpretation here is a crock

[@ritalamsley6846]

Public told all animals died were left to wonder never told tuth

[@ritalamsley6846]

So but its bull

[@fearlessjoebanzai]

Who is the member that is asking the questions?

[@darthwader7130]

Doctor Frankenstein I Presume

[@ritalamsley6846]

Daszak is he related to fauci

[@geoffdrew5207]

Check this guy's bank account, I think his attitude would then be self explanatory.

[@abelcervantes1575]

dont let hem liad to you

[@KyleDownsFTW]

Champ

[@criticality2056]

Next pandemic? How'd you do on the last one?

[@Jimjim-r9j]

Lmao rems of paper ahahahahhahaha Where does he work dunder miflin

[@ritalamsley6846]

Is da

[@Jimjim-r9j]

Arw you a biologist?

[@brutalhow7756]

Furin Cleavage Site anyone?

[@richardcallihan9746]

The inquirer is a bit short and snooty. Don't you think Chap?

[@sprsmoke]

He's actually quite good. He lets Daszak lie and expose himself. Very well done.