This is a lie. I’m getting very tired of watching major news organizations spread claims. Pompeo referenced evidence that it originated at a lab, not that it was man-made. These news organizations have been dishonestly conflating the 2 for months. There is no more exuse for it.
And the lie has a purpose. NIH is cutting the grant to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, where intel agencies increasingly think COVID-19 may have originated. 60 minutes paints that as a conspiracy to dismiss cutting the grant as irresponsible.
There is plenty of circumstantial evidence to support that belief, just no direct proof (which may now be impossible bc of China's coverup). If it did leak from there, should we continue to fund research there?
Maybe, but it's not unreasonable to say no or at least pause.
Maybe, but it's not unreasonable to say no or at least pause.
Instead of looking at the possibility honestly and considering the evidence (proximity, China's history of leaks from similar labs in Bejing, the lab's focus, evidence they locked down and cleaned the lab), they twist claims and dismiss it as a political conspiracy.
60 minutes and other outlets have basically resorted to spreading propaganda on behalf of China's regime by framing it this way. A few months ago it was possible to conclude the reporters doing it are just ignorant, but now this is indefensible and deplorable.
One note: 60 Minutes does point out that the grant wasn't directly to the lab, but to Peter Daszak's group which then works with the lab.
Although that should also have given them pause about his conclusions, since his funding depends on concluding the lab is unrelated.
Although that should also have given them pause about his conclusions, since his funding depends on concluding the lab is unrelated.
