Join WhatsApp Channel
US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released declassified documents and communications related to early COVID-19 research funding and intelligence assessments on the origins of the virus on the last day in her office, reviving political debate over the handling of pandemic-era information.
Gabbard said the materials include internal communications and whistleblower accounts that raise questions about how intelligence agencies assessed the origins of COVID-19 and the role of U.S.-funded research conducted in China, including at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
In a statement marking her departure from office yesterday, Gabbard said, “Yesterday was my final day as Director of National Intelligence,” adding that she had declassified and released documents that she said “expose the truth” about U.S.-funded research and intelligence handling of COVID-19 origins.
She alleged that the documents show coordination between officials and the intelligence community to “suppress the truth” about lab-leak theories and questioned former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Anthony Fauci’s role in pandemic-era research funding and Congressional testimony. Fauci has previously denied wrongdoing.
Gabbard also urged the public to review the materials, directing them to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence website, saying, “It’s time you know the truth.”
The release has renewed scrutiny of former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Anthony Fauci, who oversaw federal funding for infectious disease research during the period prior to the pandemic.
Gabbard and some Republican lawmakers have alleged that Fauci’s agency supported research involving bat coronaviruses and that intelligence assessments were influenced by scientists affiliated with U.S.-funded programmes. Fauci has previously denied wrongdoing and has rejected claims that U.S. funding directly caused the emergence of COVID-19.
The documents released by Gabbard and the intelligence community has not issued a new consensus on the virus’ origin.
The origins of COVID-19 remain disputed, with U.S. agencies previously divided between theories of a natural spillover and a possible laboratory-related incident. No definitive conclusion has been reached publicly.
