Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is suing China for $25 billion in damages connected to its role in the COVID-19 pandmeic and withholding PPE. Missouri cites new evidence from the CIA that says the Wuhan lab leak theory is the most likely cause of the pandemic. So, will China finally pay? AG Bailey explains that if he wins and China, which has not been cooperative, refuses to pay, he has a backup plan: seize Chinese-owned assets in America, including farmland.
Transcript
Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors
GLENN: I want to tell you about our new secretary of state, Marco Rubio real quick here. You know, he had a travel ban on China. He could not go to China. He said something, I don't know. In 2022, that the Chinese didn't like.
And they were like, you're not coming to visit us!
Well, now he's Secretary of State. So he called his co -- or, his counter person over in China. The foreign minister of China. And they were talking.
And in roughly translated, the Chinese said to Rubio. We know you'll behave.
Well, if you actually know Chinese, apparently, that takes on completely different connotation. It means, it's not something you would say, unless the person you're talking to is an underling. And it's basically, I know you're going to do what I say.
And Rubio said, no.
I'm going to do what's right for my country. In fact, I'm scheduling a visit to China right now.
He's got a travel ban. And he's going.
This administration is putting the world on notice. And I think it's going to be wildly effective, if they can continue to -- walk the way they're walking. And just set the table back to common sense.
And what's right for both of us.
I don't want anything bad to happen to China. But you're not going to treat us as an underling.
And, you know, if we don't get that prowess back that we're at least an equal partner at the table. We will got screwed all the time, as we have been.
Now, one of the things that I'm really glad to see that's been taken care of. The CIA apparently released a memo that came out a couple years ago, saying that the Wuhan lab was probably the most likely leak, of COVID. Well, that's not what they said, under the Biden administration.
Why all of a sudden, are we getting this, now that Biden is gone?
Why is the CIA now saying, yeah. It's probably Wuhan labs?
And somebody is actually doing something about this, Andrew Bailey. He's the Missouri attorney general. Missouri thinks they might have found a we to hold China accountable for COVID.
Andrew, welcome.
ANDREW: Hey, thank you for having me on.
GLENN: You bet. So what is -- what is your idea here?
ANDREW: We filed a lawsuit against China.
And the Chinese communist government asking for 25 billion, with a B, dollars in restitution and remediation for the damage they caused the Missourians by unleashing the COVID pandemic on the United States of America. And then hoarding and withholding, the PPP needed for the state to respond to the crisis.
It's called the Federal Sovereign Immunities Act. That's the basis for our lawsuit.
We're in trial today in the United States District Court, for the Eastern District of Missouri.
And I anticipate, we are going to win.
GLENN: This is -- I mean, this is phenomenal! What makes you think that you can win this?
ANDREW: Well, it helps when the other side doesn't show up.
That's how little the Chinese communist government thinks about these United States of America. That they won't even participate in a judicial process.
And, look, this isn't some crackpot theory that I can talk about on my own. The people's elected representatives in Congress enacted a statute that specifically allows states to sue for governments.
And that's the statute we've utilized. And China has not participated. As they've been granted due process of law, under the -- the judicial process. And served with notice.
They had the opportunity to be heard in court.
Had declined to do so.
Have not shown up.
I anticipate, we will get a judgment.
And we will begin executing that judgment, at the appropriate time.
GLENN: So you know that China is not going to -- they will do everything they can. To not pay it. You know, even if they're deemed guilty, they will say, well, we didn't show up. Kind of like us with the hay.
So what actually will happen with this?
ANDREW: Well, if we have a valid judgment issued by a United States district court, we can execute that government, by seizing assets that the Chinese government owns, not only the state of Missouri, but using any willing partner in any state, in the United States of America. And so we're identifying assets.
And we will continue to do so. And it's a lot of concern to Missouri, because agriculture is such a big part of our economy here in the Midwest and in the state of Missouri. And so, does China own farmland in Missouri?
You know, what other assets do they have in this state or in other states, that we can seize to execute on that 25 billion-dollar judgment.
GLENN: Holy cow.
Okay. This is fantastic.
I'm just thinking of the ramifications of seizing assets of China. Have you -- have you had any conversations with anyone in the Trump administration, on how this might play out?
ANDREW: Certainly. We stay in constant contact with the Trump administration. I know President Trump's incoming Department of Justice is monitoring this case. And familiar with it. We will remain in contact with them. Certainly, it's the prerogative of the United States. The president of the United States to execute foreign policy on behalf of this country.
This is different. This is, again, the people's elected representatives in Congress, created a judicial process for states to seek redress against foreign governments that harm those states.
But you're absolutely right.
This has to be part and parcel, and in symbiosis and in coordination with the executive branch of the federal government.
We will remain in contact with the president.
GLENN: All right. So what is your case? How are you making this case? That they intentionally released it here in America?
ANDREW: Well, it's corroborated not only with the evidence that we've found, and that we've adduced in court. But it's corroborated by the recent CIA memo that President Trump released just within the last few days.
Look, this is something that we have been talking about for a while. We knew that this wasn't some accidental transmission from an animal in a wet market to a human. That this was part of a -- the design, you know, virology study, at the Wuhan lab. It was too coincidentally, right? To be an accident.
And then China lied about it. And then China hoarded the -- isn't that how communist governments work? They create a problem.
And then withhold the means of solving that problem. So you are dependent on that government. And that's it basis of our gains.
GLENN: So what do you say to those who say, that's great.
But you're only holding half of the Frankenstein doctor, responsible?
You have Fauci.
You have EcoHealth.
You have all of these other people that were knowingly sending money.
And everything else, over to Wuhan.
How are those people held to account?
Or are they?
WILLIAM: No, I think you're absolutely right.
I think this is just one piece of an ongoing strategy to find justice for victims of COVID. And it's the American people who were lied to. Who were deceived, who were sold a bill of goods. Not only as to the lab leak. But also to the potential remedies. You know, the health risks associated with the pandemic. The lockdowns. The masking, the deprivation of our liberties. I mean, America suffered a traumatic injury, as a result of the pandemic. And we're still looking for justice.
This is just one avenue to obtain that justice. But certainly, this isn't the work that my office will do, and that the American people, certainly the people of Missouri will demand.
GLENN: So they are saying that maybe the Biden pardons of his own family, may not stand up in court. I don't understand the argument. I haven't really looked at it. I don't know if it's valid.
But can the same at all be true for Fauci?
Can we hold these people responsible even if they were pardoned before any fact came out, that showed them doing things wrong or any charges?
ANDREW: Yeah, Glenn, you're absolutely right.
Number one, we're still assessing the legal validity of President Biden's corrupt pardons.
But at the end of the day, regardless of what the federal government does, the federal government can't pardon individuals or offenses under the state law.
So they can still be charged at the state level. And certainly, you know, all options are on the table here in the state of Missouri.
GLENN: That's fantastic.
When do you expect this to be over? You only have one side to present? So when do you suppose this is over?
WILLIAM: Well, the trial should wrap up today, and then I anticipate the district court judge should issue a judgment in the coming days. It shouldn't take long.
Again, a lot of these issues have been litigated in the earlier proceedings in court, when the court dismissed our case, and we had to appeal.
So much of the writing is on the wall. Really, at this point, it's just establishing the images.
And so it shouldn't take long. And we'll be off to the races.
GLENN: Wow! And then the next step is?
WILLIAM: Again, the next step, once we obtain that judgment is identifying assets and working through the legal process to seize those assets, to make good on that judgment, that we will have obtained against the people's Republic of China.
GLENN: Any speculation on how China will react to that?
ANDREW: Well, I'm sure it will be a negative response.
But here's the problem: They had their opportunity. They had their day in court. They didn't show up. They didn't participate. Didn't communicate. Didn't put on any evidence. Didn't enter an appearance. Again, they have to know, that they're subject to the laws of the United States of America. And again, there's this federal statute on the books. That gives states a right imagine against foreign governments. So it should come as no surprise to them.
But they've done nothing to defend themselves.
So at the end of the day. It's a tacit administration Domitian of guilt.
When they refuse to even acknowledge or respond to the allegations in the petition of the lawsuit.
GLENN: Andrew, thank you. Appreciate your bravery. And your stick-to-itiveness, if you will. Andrew Bailey, the AG of the great state of Missouri.
