Criminal Negligence in the White House

In late December and early January intelligence reports coming in from the CIA, NIH, and the CDC clearly indicated that the coronavirus originating in Wuhan, China had the potential to trigger a global pandemic. In late January the Department of Health and Human Services dismissed an urgent warning from Dr. Rick Bright, the head of the Biomedical Advanced Research
Authority (BARDA) and now whistle blower, that there would be critical shortage of N-95 respirator masks. Further the administration dragged its feet on vaccine development.

In late January Congress was briefed on the potential for pandemic. It now appears that Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr was so shaken that he is now under investigation for selling a boatload of his personal stock holdings. We note that the White House had all of the information given in the briefing. All the White House did was impose a limited travel ban on China in early February and it continued to pooh-pooh the dangers of the coronavirus throughout February.  It failed to act until it was way too late in mid-March.

What we have here is a massive intelligence failure. The White House had all of the information and failed to act. This is not a case of incompetence; it is a case of criminal negligence and  President Donald Trump should be held accountable. My guess is that a 9/11 type commission will be formed next year and all of the sordid details will come out.