A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) official on Wednesday evaded lawmakers’ questions about her agency’s response to the pandemic and its failure to produce requested documents related to COVID-19 vaccine approvals, vaccine mandates and booster guidance.

Melanie Egorin, Ph.D., HHS assistant secretary for legislation, was the sole witness to appear before the hearing held by the U.S. House of Representatives Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic.

“When the Select Subcommittee requested documents, HHS ignored our letters and provided suspect excuses,” said Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio), chair of the subcommittee, in a statement released before the hearing. “When we asked for important testimony, HHS seemed to purposefully mislead Select Subcommittee investigators.”

“This pattern of avoiding accountability to the American people can not, and should not, be tolerated any longer,” Wenstrup added.