Missouri sues China, alleges country's mishandling of coronavirus caused 'enormous' loss

'The Chinese government lied to the world' – Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt

Published: April 22, 2020 7:59am

Updated: April 22, 2020 2:57pm

Missouri is suing the China government over the coronavirus, arguing Chinese officials misleading information and slow response to the now-global infection resulted in “enormous death, suffering, and economic losses.”  

The suit was filed Tuesday in federal court by Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt.

“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,” he said, according to the Associated Press. “They must be held accountable for their actions.”

Whether the suit goes forward remains unclear, because governments largely have sovereignty for to such situations, and U.S. law essentially prohibits suits against other countries.

Missouri Democratic lawmakers say the Republican attorney general filing the suit is a political stunt.  

 

The Facts Inside Our Reporter's Notebook

Unlock unlimited access

  • No Ads Within Stories
  • No Autoplay Videos
  • VIP access to exclusive Just the News newsmaker events hosted by John Solomon and his team.
  • Support the investigative reporting and honest news presentation you've come to enjoy from Just the News.
  • Just the News Spotlight

    Support Just the News