Senator Schmitt Sued and Targeted by Communist China in $50 Billion Lawfare Campaign

Chinese Retaliatory Lawfare Follows Schmitt's Case as MO AG Against China for Hoarding PPE During COVID

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) announced he has been sued and targeted by Communist China in a $50 Billion lawfare campaign. A first-of-its-kind lawsuit, filed by the People's Government of Wuhan Municipality, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the infamous Wuhan Institute of Virology, targets Schmitt and the State of Missouri for standing up against China in 2020 for unleashing and worsening the COVID-19 pandemic by hoarding personal protective equipment. As Missouri Attorney General, Senator Schmitt filed and won lawsuit, Schmitt v. The People's Republic of China, for the enormous loss of life, suffering, and economic turmoil Americans endured because of China's deceit and unlawful hoarding of PPE during the pandemic, which resulted in a successful $24 billion judgment against China.

"I've been banned from Communist China, and now I am being sued and targeted by Communist China in a $50 Billion lawfare campaign, and I'll wear it like a badge of honor. China's sinister malfeasance during the COVID-19 pandemic led to over a million Americans losing their lives, economic turmoil that rocked our country for years, and an enormous amount of human suffering, and as Missouri Attorney General I filed suit to hold them accountable. Instead of trying to defend its indefensible behavior, Communist China responded with frivolous lawfare, attempting to absolve themselves of all wrongdoing in the early days of the pandemic. This novel lawsuit is factually baseless, legally meritless, and any fake judgment a Chinese court issues in this lawsuit we will easily beat back and keep from being enforced against the people of Missouri or me. This is their way of distracting from what the world already knows, China has blood on its hands. China lied about the origins of COVID virus, they tried to cover it up, and they upended the world by creating a global pandemic that resulted in immense human loss. The responsibility lies squarely at their feet. No amount of CCP choreographed lawfare will deter me from standing up for Missourians and the American people," said Senator Schmitt.

Background:

• In April 2020, then-Attorney General Schmitt sued the People's Republic of China and related entities for causing and exacerbating the COVID-19 pandemic by limiting the production, purchase, import, and export of personal protective equipment.
• In March 2025, Missouri won a $24 billion judgement, the largest judgement in state history and the largest ever issued against a foreign sovereign government.
• In November 2025, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced that her Office will be taking the next steps toward securing the $24 billion judgement by seizing Chinese-owned assets in Missouri, prompting the lawsuit.

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