U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) was called out by radio host Dan Proft for allegedly spreading disinformation.
“Read the whole thread about an under-highlighted COVID demagogue and partisan hack--I know there are many from which to choose in the IL congressional delegation--
@congressmanraja," Proft, the host of the Morning Answer on AM 560, tweeted.
In the thread, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a medical professor specializing in infectious diseases at the Stanford School of Medicine, describes being bombarded with disinformation by Krishnamoorthi at a COVID response hearing in front of a U.S. House Subcommittee.
“Ironically, the Congressman made the main point of my testimony. Since unqualified people are in charge of policing ‘misinformation’ in media & big tech, scientists risk being smeared if they speak up. No wonder so many have stayed silent as lockdown disaster has unfolded,” Bhattacharya tweeted.
After the hearing – held in part to discuss COVID disinformation – Bhattacharya took to Twitter to describe falsehoods prompted by Krishnamoorthi.
“First, by quoting out of context, he mischaracterized a piece I wrote in January 2021. Contra the Congressman, I did not argue the epidemic was over. I argued for prioritizing the elderly in India with the limited vaccine doses it had at the time,” Bhattacharya tweeted.
“Second, he falsely stated that a judge disqualified me as an expert in a child mask mandate case. The judge did not agree with my assessment of the science of child masking. Other judges, in other cases not mentioned by the Congressman, have agreed,” Bhattacharya tweeted.
Bhattacharya has been an outspoken advocate for curtailing executive orders governors across the country have used to force mask wearing and other social mandates.
In October he issued the Great Barrington Declaration in which he advocated for herd immunity and segregating older, more vulnerable populations.
Bhattacharya said Krishnamoorthi also reverted to baseless polical attacks.
“Finally, the Congressman red-baited me. I gave an interview in May 2020 re: a study I ran to a Chinese tv station. It is shameful that the Congressman would try to insinuate that I support the Chinese government because I communicated a scientific result to the public,” Bhattacharya tweeted.
Krishnamoorthi represents Illinois' 8th District which includes Hoffman Estates, Elgin, Schaumburg, Wood Dale and Elk Grove Village in addtion to other communities.
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