Multiple potential witnesses pulled out of a congressional committee hearing on U.S.-China economic relations due to fears that they could receive backlash stemming from the Chinese Communist Party, according to Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), chair of the House Subcommittee on Investor Protection, Entrepreneurship, and Capital Markets. Sherman disclosed this at the outset of the Oct. 26 hearing, which aimed to examine risks to U.S. investors posed by Chinese companies and other foreign issuers. “We have great witnesses here today, but the most articulate witnesses are those who are not here today,” he said. “Their decision to pull out of this hearing due to pressure—economic pressure—speaks loudly to China’s strong economic power over politics and economics here in the United States.” Ranking member Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.) expressed shock at Sherman’s assertion, asking for more details. Sherman declined to identify the potential witnesses, but indicated they come from the finance sector. “I’m …