Van Drew Touted Unproven Treatment After Hydroxychloroquine Distributor Donated to His Campaign
Yesterday, the World Health Organization announced it would be halting its global trial of hydroxychloroquine after a new study found that the drug is linked to increased risk of death in coronavirus patients. The study comes after vulnerable Republican Jefferson Van Drew of New Jersey received a donation from the drug’s distributor and promoted the drug himself.
Joseph Pizza, President and CEO of Interchem, a company that sells hydroxychloroquine sulfate, donated to Van Drew’s campaign on the heels of his party switch. Van Drew then went on to promote the drug on Twitter.
Even more, in a radio interview Van Drew stated “if you’re not tested, if you don’t feel good, you take the chance and you apply [hydroxychloroquine] early,” one day after Dr. Anthony Fauci, an infection disease doctor on the White House’s Coronavirus Task Force, reiterated that there was no evidence supporting use of the drug to treat COVID-19, especially not on patients who had not tested positive for the virus as Van Drew suggested.
Given all we’re learning about this drug, will Van Drew publicly disavow his previous comments and return Pizza’s donation or will he double-down like the president to whom he pledged his “undying support?”
“In light of studies showing hydroxychloroquine could potentially increase the risk of death for COVID-19 patients, Jefferson Van Drew’s comments supporting this drug are even more dangerous and irresponsible,” said DCCC Spokesperson Christine Bennett. “South Jersey residents deserve to know: will Van Drew do what’s right for his constituents and disavow his previous comments, or will he continue to be a mindless yes-man to his donor despite the danger it poses to New Jerseyans?”
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