The US government may have paid twice for grants it doled out to fund research at labs in Wuhan, China, according to a newly launched federal probe that found tens of millions of dollars in potentially fraudulent payments.
The “risky” projects bankrolled by the National Institutes of Health and the US Agency for International Development would have helped pay for medical supplies, equipment, travel expenses, and salaries at the Wuhan labs, according to CBS News, which broke the story Monday.
Among them was the Wuhan Institute of Virology, where taxpayers funded controversial gain-of-function research on bat coronaviruses that federal officials now admit Among them was the Wuhan Institute of Virology, where taxpayers funded controversial gain-of-function research on bat coronaviruses that federal officials now admit may have led to the COVID-19 pandemic.
An investigator hired by Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) first discovered the allegedly fraudulent funding from NIH and USAID, CBS News reported, and her findings prompted an internal probe by an inspector general.
“What I’ve found so far is evidence that points to double billing, potential theft of government funds,” Diane Cutler, who said she reviewed 50,000 documents on the matter, told “CBS News Mornings.”
“It is concerning, especially since it involves dangerous pathogens and risky research.” --->READ MORE HERE
 |
| Photo: Shari L. Gross/Associated Press |
The Justice Department charged 10 additional people in connection with a scheme that allegedly stole more than $250 million from a Covid-19 aid program that fed low-income children.
The 10 defendants, who were allegedly part of a broader scheme announced in September, face charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering and bribery, the U.S. attorney’s office in Minnesota said Monday. The defendants participated in a scheme to defraud the Federal Child Nutrition Program by misappropriating and laundering millions of dollars intended as reimbursements for the cost of serving meals to children, prosecutors said.
The newly charged defendants allegedly used the money from the federal program to purchase real estate, luxury cars and airline tickets. One defendant allegedly bought a Tesla Model X. Another allegedly purchased a 37-acre commercial property in a community near Minneapolis and spent hundreds of thousands of dollars toward the purchase of an aircraft.
Forty-seven other people were charged in September in connection with the alleged scheme. Prosecutors said those defendants created organizations that claimed to be providing meals to tens of thousands of children who didn’t exist.
Officials said it was the largest theft uncovered from a Covid-19 aid program. --->READ MORE HEREFollow links below to relevant/related stories and resources:
COVID call centers and testing sites close in further sign US is moving past the pandemic
Biden administration to relax COVID testing rules for travelers from China
USA TODAY: Coronavirus Updates
WSJ: Coronavirus Live Updates
YAHOO NEWS: Coronavirus Live Updates
NEW YORK POST: Coronavirus The Latest
If you like what you see, please "Like" and/or Follow us on FACEBOOK here, GETTR here, and TWITTER here.
No comments:
Post a Comment