Missouri’s Landmark Victory Targets Chinese Assets to Recover Pandemic Damages
In a groundbreaking legal victory, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has secured a staggering $24 billion judgment against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for its role in unleashing the COVID-19 pandemic. The ruling, handed down by a federal court, marks the largest judgment in Missouri’s history—six times greater than the previous record—and stands as a bold step toward holding China accountable for the global crisis.
Attorney General Bailey hailed the decision as a triumph for both Missouri and the United States. “This is a landmark victory in the fight to hold China accountable for unleashing COVID-19 on the world,” Bailey said. “China refused to show up to court, but that doesn’t mean they get away with causing untold suffering and economic devastation. We intend to collect every penny by seizing Chinese-owned assets, including Missouri farmland.”
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The court’s ruling affirmed Missouri’s claim, stating that the state “has established this claim of damages through evidence satisfactory to the court.” The evidence presented demonstrated that China’s actions not only caused but also worsened the COVID-19 pandemic, inflicting significant harm on Missourians. This judgment builds on a lawsuit originally filed in 2020 by then-Attorney General Eric Schmitt, who accused the CCP of obstructing the production, purchase, and export of critical medical equipment—such as personal protective equipment (PPE)—during the height of the crisis.
Aggressive Collection Action Including Seizing Farmland
With the $24 billion judgment now in hand, Missouri is gearing up to take aggressive action to collect the awarded damages. Attorney General Bailey has signaled that the state will target Chinese-owned assets within its borders, including farmland, and is prepared to collaborate with the Trump Administration to identify and seize additional assets if necessary. This move is seen as both an economic safeguard for Missouri and a broader statement of national security.
The victory comes after years of legal battles and reflects growing efforts across the U.S. to address the far-reaching consequences of the pandemic, which claimed millions of lives and upended economies worldwide. For Missourians, the ruling represents not just financial restitution but a measure of justice for the hardships endured.
A full copy of the judgment is available here for public review.
