House panel says company probed for COVID-19 misinformation is withholding info

An online company under investigation by a House panel for profiting off COVID-19 misinformation is not cooperating with the probe, according to the panel’s chairman.

According to a letter sent by Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), chairman of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, SpeakWithAnMD.com has failed to provide any documents or information requested and has not responded to any communication from the committee in more than a week.

“Despite repeated assurances of compliance, SpeakWithAnMD has failed to produce any documents responsive to the Select Subcommittee’s requests. The Select Subcommittee expects SpeakWithAnMD to fully and promptly respond to all of its document and information requests,” Clyburn said in a statement. “Should the company fail to do so, the Select Subcommittee will be forced to consider alternative measures to obtain compliance.”

Brian McEvoy, an attorney with Baker Hostetler who is representing the company, said his clients have been cooperative.

“We have cooperated with the select subcommittee and will continue to do so. Any suggestion to the contrary is false.”

The subcommittee opened an investigation into SpeakWithAnMD.com in October, alleging the company was a “leading purveyor of questionable treatments nationwide” and collected millions of dollars in fees from prescribing disproven and potentially hazardous coronavirus treatments, such as hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin.

Clyburn said many of the consultations were arranged through referrals from America’s Frontline Doctors, a group that has promoted misinformation about the virus and is also under congressional investigation.

“This manipulative scheme is scamming Americans and putting their lives at risk,” Clyburn wrote.

SpeakWithAnMD.com was founded by Jerome Corsi, a conservative author.

Clyburn said the company has failed to follow through on promised document productions on numerous occasions, despite the committee extending deadlines.

The company most recently promised documents by Jan. 21. But Clyburn said not only have there been no documents, but SpeakWithAnMD.com has failed to respond to communications from subcommittee staff since Jan. 14.

Clyburn said the committee expects a full response by Feb 4.