CIA allegedly offered hush money to silence six analysts on Covid lab leak.
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The CIA Allegedly Offered Hush Money to Analysts Who Linked Covid-19 to a Lab in Wuhan
The CIA is facing allegations of offering hush money to six analysts who concluded that Covid-19 originated from a lab in Wuhan, China. A senior-level CIA officer made this claim during a congressional hearing.
The news of this suspected payoff was revealed in two letters written by the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. These letters were addressed to CIA Director William J. Burns and former CIA Chief Operating Officer Andrew Makridis.
Details of the Allegations
In the letter to Burns, SSCP Chairman Brad Wenstrup and HPSCI Chairman Mike Turner provided details of the testimony given by a highly credible senior-level CIA officer. According to the officer, the CIA used a significant monetary incentive to discredit evidence suggesting a lab leak origin of Covid-19.
The whistleblower revealed that six out of seven CIA analysts believed that the intelligence and science supported the theory that Covid-19 originated from a laboratory in Wuhan. These analysts were experienced officers with scientific expertise. However, the CIA allegedly attempted to change their conclusion in favor of a zoonotic origin by offering them financial incentives.
The committee chairmen noted that the seventh member of the team, who happened to be the most senior officer, believed in the zoonotic origin theory. This discrepancy raised concerns about a financially motivated flip-flop that led to the eventual public determination of uncertainty.
Demands for Accountability
The CIA is one of two intelligence agencies that still claims it is unable to determine the precise origin of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is in contrast to other government agencies, such as the FBI and U.S. Department of Energy, who have acknowledged the likelihood of a lab leak from the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
In response to these allegations, the committee chairmen demanded that the CIA provide all documents, communication, and financial transaction information related to the virus origins investigation team. They also requested access to the team’s communications with other government agencies.
The committee chairmen warned that any improper influence exerted by the CIA would be thoroughly investigated to ensure accountability within the intelligence community.
Unusual Rejection of Lab Leak Evidence
The CIA’s rejection of lab leak evidence is considered unusual, especially considering the growing number of government agencies that have acknowledged its likelihood. The HPSCI previously determined that intelligence agencies, including the CIA, downplayed the possibility of a connection between SARS-CoV2 and China’s bioweapons program.
Furthermore, documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request revealed the link between U.S. taxpayer dollars and the research conducted by the WIV lab staff in Wuhan.
Jordan Boyd is a staff writer at The Federalist and co-producer of The Federalist Radio Hour. Her work has also been featured in The Daily Wire, Fox News, and RealClearPolitics. Jordan graduated from Baylor University where she majored in political science and minored in journalism. Follow her on Twitter @jordanboydtx.
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