November 20th, 2020 by WCBC Radio

The first batch of coronavirus tests Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan acquired from South Korea were flawed, according to a report by The Washington Post. Hogan used nearly $9.5 million in state funding to purchase 500,000 COVID-19 test kits from abroad back in April. But those tests were never used, according to the Post. Instead, Hogan reportedly paid the same South Korean company, LabGenomics, $2.5 million to replace the tests.

After getting the replacement tests, the Post reported that they were offered two two private labs for use, but one declined due to possible false positives and the speed of the results. They say 370,000 of the replacement tests by the other lab.

In June, Maryland lawmakers voiced concerns about the tests after learning they were “missing some pieces.”

“If it was announced that we bought these tests, and in fact, they were incomplete tests, then we not only deceived Marylanders, we deceived the nation,” Senator Paul Pinsky said.

On Friday, Maryland Democratic Party Chair Yvette Lewis released a statement following The Washington Post’s report, calling Hogan’s acquisition of the tests a “botched publicity stunt.”