SC Attorney General Alan Wilson Leads Coalition Calling for a Federal-State Partnership to Hold China Responsible for the COVID-19 Pandemic

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) -  May 13, 2020 - South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson today helped lead a coalition of 14 states calling for a federal-state partnership to develop a comprehensive plan to hold the Communist Party of China responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. The coalition of state attorneys general sent a letter to President Donald J. Trump requesting a partnership to begin exploring legal avenues to hold China responsible for the public health and economic damage caused by its withholding of information and international dissemination of misinformation as COVID-19 began to spread in China and beyond.

“Last Friday, I led a letter by attorneys general asking Congress to investigate China’s role in the spread of the pandemic and this is another path we need to take,” Attorney General Wilson said. “We all need to work together to find out what the Chinese government knew, when they knew it, and what our options are to hold them accountable.”

 The letter sent by the coalition states, “As the administration evaluates the spectrum of possible actions to take towards China, a coordinated effort involving all appropriate federal agencies and our States is crucial to ensuring the accountability our citizens deserve. A comprehensive evaluation of the legal, economic, diplomatic, and security measures that can be employed must be undertaken and for maximum effectiveness States should be included in that process to the extent possible. This will allow us to share information and resources and ensure that any remedy sought takes into consideration our legal capabilities and the devastating impact the virus has had on our States.”

It is well documented that the novel coronavirus originated in Wuhan, China. It is also widely reported that Chinese medical professionals attempted to warn the public of the highly contagious nature of COVID-19 but were silenced by the communist regime. Since the virus crossed the China border and made its way to the U.S., more than 80,000 Americans—including approximately 355 in South Carolina-- have contracted the virus and died.

Along with the rising death toll, the economic damage is increasing with domestic and international trade drastically halted in an attempt to contain the spread of the virus. The pandemic’s economic devastation has caused the national unemployment rate to skyrocket from 3.5 percent in February to its current rate of 14.7 percent.

Trillions in federal stimulus rescue funds are being distributed to ease the economic suffering. More federal action will likely be necessary as the American economy attempts to slowly reemerge in the face of the constant threat of infection.

To read the letter signed by the attorneys general, click here.

South Carolina is joined in this effort by attorneys general from Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee and West Virginia. Florida and South Carolina are leading the call to action.