Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot is calling on the state to cut ties with coronavirus recovery advisor Dr. Robert Redfield over comments he made about the origin of COVID-19. The former head of the CDC believes the virus escaped from a lab in Wuhan, China and Franchot says there’s no evidence supporting his comments. The comptroller has written a letter to Acting Health Secretary Dennis Schrader saying the state should base policy decisions on factual evidence. Franchot also says the comments are concerning and reckless with increasing hate crimes and bigotry against Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders. Last week Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson called on Redfield to retract his comments or step away from his role with the state.