Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the Chinese government, the Chinese Communist Party and other officials, claiming China suppressed information, arrested whistleblowers and denied the contagious nature of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for Eastern Missouri, alleges that China’s actions led to loss of life and severe economic consequences in Missouri. According to a news release, the lawsuit seeks relief on one count of public nuisance, one count of abnormally dangerous activities, and two counts of breach of duty.
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“In Missouri, the impact of the virus is very real,” Schmitt said. “Thousands have been infected and many have died; families have been separated from dying loved ones; small businesses are shuttering their doors, and those living paycheck-to-paycheck are struggling to put food on their table.
“The Chinese government lied to the world about the danger and contagious nature of COVID-19, silenced whistleblowers, and did little to stop the spread of the disease. They must be held accountable for their actions.”
Schmitt said remedies could include “civil penalties and restitution, abatement of the public nuisance, cessation of abnormally dangerous activities, punitive damages, and more.”
