Senator Rand Paul released emails between NIH and EcoHealth Alliance discussing research on coronaviruses in Wuhan, China.
The emails indicate Dr. David Morens of NIH potentially used personal email to avoid transparency laws.
“Tony is now fully aware I think and is I am told involved in some sort of damage control,” Morens wrote.
Newly discovered emails…
Ecohealth's Peter Daszak: "we have 15,000 samples in freezers in Wuhan"https://t.co/JZ0HLzWbqy
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) April 16, 2024
“David – We’ll communicate with you via gmail from now on,” adding, “we have 15,000 samples in freezers in Wuhan,” Dr. Peter Daszak wrote.
A House subcommittee issued a subpoena for Morens’ emails and testimony.
The emails revealed discussions of a large sample collection in Wuhan and Dr. Fauci’s involvement in damage control after an EcoHealth Alliance grant was halted.
Senator Paul accuses Fauci of a cover-up regarding the origins of the pandemic.
“Newly discovered emails suggest a cover-up and raise disturbing questions about what Dr. Fauci and others at NIH knew about the origins of the pandemic,” Paul said.
“This is crazy,” Elon Musk wrote. “Say what!?”
Morens was placed on leave over possible violations of records laws.
The subcommittee continues investigating Morens’ actions related to COVID-19 origins discussions amid accusations he deliberately circumvented transparency.
The controversy adds to debates around gain-of-function research and the pandemic’s origins.
