A two-year probe by U.S. lawmakers concludes that SARS-CoV-2 did not originate naturally, as many scientists think, but likely leaked from a lab in Wuhan, China.

By Sam Cooper | The Bureau

As the world continues to recover from the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, and with a new U.S. administration on the way that appears poised to take strong accountability measures against China on issues including fentanyl trafficking and foreign interference, a 500-page congressional report suggests the virus most likely originated from a laboratory accident covered up by scientists worldwide. This jarring conclusion raises serious questions about transparency and could deepen distrust in government institutions both in the U.S. and globally.

Summary

Key points from the report include:

1. Lab Leak Hypothesis: The lab leak hypothesis is increasingly supported by evidence. Former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe emphasized that the lab leak theory is the only explanation credibly supported by intelligence, science, and common sense.
2. Peter Daszak Investigation: The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating British zoologist Peter Daszak, who has emerged as a central figure in the gain-of-function controversy along with his organization, EcoHealth Alliance, for their role in pandemic-era activities. EcoHealth funded coronavirus research at China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology.
3. Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV): The WIV has a documented history of conducting high-risk gain-of-function research. The report details how WIV scientists created combinations of SARS-like coronaviruses through genetic engineering and employed techniques that could obscure intentional modifications.
4. Canadian Intelligence Links: Canadian intelligence documents link a suspected Chinese military agent, Dr. Xiangguo Qiu, to Daszak and a group of U.S. scientists collaborating on coronavirus research with senior WIV scientists. Dr. Qiu and her husband Keding Cheng were fired from Canada’s top infectious disease laboratory in 2021 after they “intentionally” shared scientific information with China that potentially placed people in jeopardy, according to an assessment by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).  
5. DARPA Proposal: In 2018, EcoHealth and WIV proposed to create a virus with SARS-CoV-2’s defining features, including a furin cleavage site, under cost-effective yet risky BSL-2 protocols. DARPA, a U.S. government agency focused on promoting national security through new technologies, rejected the proposal due to concerns about dual-use and gain-of-function research.
6. Proximal Origins Study: The congressional report alleges that the study “Proximal Origins” was prompted by senior U.S. health officials, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, to disprove the Wuhan lab-leak theory. One of the authors, Dr. Kristian Andersen, initially suspected COVID-19 was a man-made virus but later supported Fauci’s cover-up plan.
7. Safety Lapses: The WIV conducted experiments under BSL-2 protocols, which require minimal protective measures compared to the more rigorous BSL-3 standards mandated in the United States. Former CDC Director Robert Redfield highlighted the risks inherent in such practices.
8. Beijing’s Handling: The report criticizes Beijing for delaying investigations, suppressing key data, and silencing whistleblowers during the early weeks of the pandemic. The WIV’s reported collaboration with the Chinese military has deepened suspicions about the lab’s dual-use research capabilities and potential ties to broader bioweapons programs.
9. Global Oversight and Accountability: The report calls for stronger global oversight and accountability to prevent similar crises in the future. The findings could mark a turning point in the global response to the origins of COVID-19, potentially leading to significant policy measures, including economic sanctions.

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