House Republicans Investigate Origins of Covid-19, Request Testimonies and Documents from US Intelligence Agencies
On Monday, House Republicans launched their pledged examination of the source of the coronavirus pandemic, asking for Dr. Anthony Fauci and current Biden administration personnel to testify, as well as classified briefings and records from American intelligence agencies.[0] The Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, headed by Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), is investigating and examining the origins of the pandemic and pressing senior officials in the Biden administration for documents and testimony.[1]
Wenstrup said that Americans “deserve real answers” and that the investigation would probe the virus' origins in an attempt to predict or prevent future pandemics.[2] He noted that “government scientists and government funded researchers have so far been less than forthcoming in their knowledge and actions, including work with the Wuhan Institute of Virology and potential pandemic pathogens.”[3]
The investigation is looking into the notion that Covid-19 could have leaked from a Chinese lab and is requesting briefings from U.S. intelligence agencies and dozens of public health officials.[4] House Oversight and Accountability chair James Comer (R-KY) added that “evidence continues to mount pointing to the virus leaking from an unsecure lab in Wuhan.”[3]
The Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic seeks to bring more emphasis to theories that the spread of Covid-19 originated out of laboratory experiments in Wuhan, China, possibly backed by US money, rather than at a Wuhan market.[0] By gathering documents, testimonies, and classified briefings, the investigation hopes to learn more about the virus' origins so that it can attempt to predict, prepare or prevent similar pandemics from happening again.[2]
0. “House GOP Seeks Fauci Testimony in Probe of Covid-19 Origins” Bloomberg, 14 Feb. 2023, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-02-14/house-gop-seeks-fauci-testimony-in-probe-of-covid-19-origins
1. “The problem with the GOP’s new Covid committee is its members” MSNBC, 14 Feb. 2023, https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/problem-gops-new-covid-committee-members-rcna70610
2. “House Oversight Republicans launch investigation into COVID-19 origins” USA TODAY, 13 Feb. 2023, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2023/02/13/house-oversight-investigation-covid-origins/11251167002
3. “GOP launches Covid origins probe by requesting info from Fauci, Biden officials” NBC News, 14 Feb. 2023, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/gop-launches-covid-origins-probe-requesting-info-fauci-biden-officials-rcna70517
4. “Covid update: House GOP launches investigation into pandemic's origins” Charleston City Paper, 14 Feb. 2023, https://charlestoncitypaper.com/2023/02/14/covid-update-u-s-house-gop-launches-investigation-into-pandemics-origins/
