Gabbard alleges U.S. concealed Wuhan research and COVID-19 origins

Director of the US National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, in a video message published on the X platform ahead of leaving office, alleged that Anthony Fauci, the former head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), sought to hide that U.S. funds had been directed to research at the Wuhan laboratory. On June 19, her final day in office, Gabbard also released previously classified materials on the origins of COVID-19.

According to a release from the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence, before the COVID-19 pandemic, Fauci allocated millions of US taxpayer dollars to fund dangerous research on bat coronaviruses at the Chinese laboratory. Gabbard states that these experiments ultimately led to an unintended laboratory leak, triggering the global pandemic.

Gabbard further claimed that Fauci worked with what she described as politicized leaders within the Intelligence Community (IC) to conceal information about his actions, the virus’s alleged laboratory origin, and his role in directing U.S. funding towards the research. She said these actions caused immeasurable harm and countless lost lives worldwide.

In addition, she accused Fauci of manipulating IC assessments and potentially pressuring officials who sought to present what they believed were accurate findings on the origins of SARS-CoV-2. She also alleged that U.S. officials concealed information about such research programs and intimidated individuals who attempted to expose them.

Earlier, Qazinform News Agency reported that Thai authorities had confirmed the discovery of a new coronavirus strain in bats within the country.