{"id":1861990,"date":"2023-02-27T09:50:13","date_gmt":"2023-02-27T14:50:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1861990"},"modified":"2023-02-27T09:58:18","modified_gmt":"2023-02-27T14:58:18","slug":"jonathan-turley-covid-lab-leak-is-a-scandal-of-media-and-government-censorship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jonathan-turley-covid-lab-leak-is-a-scandal-of-media-and-government-censorship\/","title":{"rendered":"Jonathan Turley: COVID Lab Leak Is a Scandal of Media and Government Censorship"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fjonathan-turley-covid-lab-leak-is-a-scandal-of-media-and-government-censorship%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1861990&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><br \/>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignleft\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/urldefense.com\/v3\/__https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/covid-origin-china-lab-leak-807b7b0a__;!!F0Stn7g!CNp1B8Kpm5wLo4ddcSRS2-NCy3iqoum8Z1dF8BgV0QzqumAWyghGdgRgCUp1vIgSiQ6I2pjK90l3dCsJxq8$\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wall Street Journal<\/a>\u00a0According to reports, Energy Department has concluded that\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/urldefense.com\/v3\/__https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/u-s-covid-19-pandemic-enters-fourth-year-with-hospitalizations-on-the-decline-11674185739?mod=article_inline__;!!F0Stn7g!CNp1B8Kpm5wLo4ddcSRS2-NCy3iqoum8Z1dF8BgV0QzqumAWyghGdgRgCUp1vIgSiQ6I2pjK90l3ZuiZXG8$\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pandemic COVID<\/a>\u00a0Most likely, it was caused by a laboratory leak. <\/p>\n<p>This conclusion is believed to be based upon a classified intelligence report that was recently sent to the White House, and other key members of Congress. Many will investigate why the scientific evidence for a lab leak came so slowly from intelligence agencies. <\/p>\n<p>For me, however, the most alarming aspect of censorship was not the science.<\/p>\n<p>Although there will always be some debate regarding the origins COVID-19, there will soon be an acknowledgment. <em>Actual<\/em> debate. <\/p>\n<p>The media and the government have teamed up for years to treat anyone who raises a laboratory theory as one of three possible options: conspiracy theorist, racist or racist conspiracy theorist.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287.jpg?1677411721\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"25916104\"><\/p>\n<p><\/button><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"25916104\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287.jpg?1677411721&#038;w=1024&#038;1677411721\" alt=\"CORONAVIRUS\" class=\"wp-image-25916104\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287.jpg?quality=75&#038;strip=all 2000w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-2.jpg, 200&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 300w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-3.jpg, 512&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 768w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-4.jpg, 682&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-5.jpg, 1024&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 1536w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-6.jpg, 709&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 1064w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-7.jpg, 250&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 375w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-8.jpg, 633&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 950w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-9.jpg, 585&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 878w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-10.jpg, 496&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 744w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-11.jpg, 90&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 135w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-12.jpg, 384&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 576w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-13.jpg, 316&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 474w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-14.jpg, 305&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 457w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-15.jpg, 293&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 440w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-16.jpg, 282&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 424w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-17.jpg, 260&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 389w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-18.jpg, 240&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 360w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-19.jpg, 227&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 340w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-20.jpg, 213&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 320w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-21.jpg, 209&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 314w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-22.jpg, 204&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 306w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-23.jpg, 187&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 280w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-24.jpg, 174&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 260w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-25.jpg, 164&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 246w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-26.jpg, 156&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 234w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-27.jpg, 130&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 195w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-28.jpg, 120&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 180w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-29.jpg, 114&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 171w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-30.jpg, 107&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 160w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-31.jpg, 96&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 144w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-32.jpg, 93&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 140w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-33.jpg, 71&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 107w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-34.jpg, 62&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 93w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-35.jpg, 56&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 84w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-36.jpg, 133&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 200w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-37.jpg, 154&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 231w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-38.jpg, 215&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 322w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-39.jpg, 58&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 87w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-40.jpg, 100&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 150w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/newspress-collage-25915876-1677429667287-41.jpg, 33&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 50w\"   style=\"display:none\"><\/a><figcaption>Researchers from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, and the EcoHealth Alliance captured bats in caves throughout China to test for coronaviruses.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">ECOHEALTH ALLIANCE<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>These academics also joined the chorus of those who ridicule the theory.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/urldefense.com\/v3\/__https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/full\/10.1177\/1367549420944934__;!!F0Stn7g!CNp1B8Kpm5wLo4ddcSRS2-NCy3iqoum8Z1dF8BgV0QzqumAWyghGdgRgCUp1vIgSiQ6I2pjK90l3YUiS8Cg$\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">One study<\/a>\u00a0The theory was cited as an example &#8220;anti-Chinese racism&#8221;  &#8220;toxic white masculinity.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/urldefense.com\/v3\/__https:\/\/jonathanturley.org\/2021\/05\/28\/please-dont-write-about-it-new-york-times-science-reporter-declares-lab-leak-theory-racist\/__;!!F0Stn7g!CNp1B8Kpm5wLo4ddcSRS2-NCy3iqoum8Z1dF8BgV0QzqumAWyghGdgRgCUp1vIgSiQ6I2pjK90l3QuTONro$\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Even as late as May 2021<\/a>Apoorva Mandavilli, Science and Health reporter at the New York Times, called any mention of the laboratory theory &#8220;apoorva&#8221; &#8220;racist.&#8221;\u00a0 <\/p>\n<p>She is the new model &#8220;advocacy journalism&#8221; at the Times. Reporters who held on to outdated views of objective journalism were expelled from the Times ranks long ago. <\/p>\n<p>Mandavilli, along with others, made it clear that the reporters who covered the theory were COVID\u2019s Bull Connors. She wrote wistfully &#8220;someday we will stop talking about the lab leak theory and maybe even admit its racist roots. But alas, that day is not yet here.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906.jpg\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"25916050\"><\/p>\n<p><\/button><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"25916050\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906.jpg\" alt=\"COVID LAB\" class=\"wp-image-25916050\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906.jpg?quality=75&#038;strip=all 2000w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906-2.jpg, 200&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 300w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906-3.jpg, 512&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 768w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906-4.jpg, 682&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906-5.jpg, 1024&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 1536w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906-6.jpg, 709&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 1064w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906-7.jpg, 250&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 375w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906-8.jpg, 633&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 950w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906-9.jpg, 585&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 878w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906-10.jpg, 496&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 744w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906.jpg?resize=135, 90&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 135w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906.jpg?resize=576, 384&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 576w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906.jpg?resize=474, 316&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 474w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906.jpg?resize=457, 305&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 457w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906.jpg?resize=440, 293&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 440w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906.jpg?resize=424, 282&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 424w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906.jpg?resize=389, 260&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 389w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906.jpg?resize=360, 240&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 360w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906.jpg?resize=340, 227&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 340w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906.jpg?resize=320, 213&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 320w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906.jpg?resize=314, 209&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 314w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906.jpg?resize=306, 204&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 306w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906.jpg?resize=280, 187&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 280w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906.jpg?resize=260, 174&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 260w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906.jpg?resize=246, 164&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 246w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906.jpg?resize=234, 156&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 234w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906.jpg?resize=195, 130&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 195w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906.jpg?resize=180, 120&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 180w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906.jpg?resize=171, 114&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 171w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906.jpg?resize=160, 107&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 160w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906.jpg?resize=144, 96&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 144w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906.jpg?resize=140, 93&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 140w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906.jpg?resize=107, 71&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 107w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906.jpg?resize=93, 62&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 93w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906.jpg?resize=84, 56&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 84w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906.jpg?resize=200, 133&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906.jpg?resize=231, 154&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 231w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906.jpg?resize=322, 215&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 322w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906.jpg?resize=87, 58&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 87w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906.jpg?resize=150, 100&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 150w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007293906.jpg?resize=50, 33&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 50w\" \/><\/a><figcaption>The Biden administration\u00a0reportedly shut down the State Department investigation into the possible lab origins of the virus.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">AFP via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Nicholas Wade (ex-science editor for the New York Times), is however, an ex-New York Times science editor.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/urldefense.com\/v3\/__https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-9613271\/Retired-NYT-science-editor-criticizes-mainstream-media-ignoring-evidence-Wuhan-lab-link.html__;!!F0Stn7g!CNp1B8Kpm5wLo4ddcSRS2-NCy3iqoum8Z1dF8BgV0QzqumAWyghGdgRgCUp1vIgSiQ6I2pjK90l3Mo1xD7w$\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">His former colleagues were chastised<\/a>\u00a0for ignoring the\u00a0obvious evidence supporting a lab theory\u00a0as well as Chinese efforts to arrest scientists and destroy evidence that could establish the origin.<\/p>\n<p>Others from academia joined the chorus to assure the public there was no scientific basis to their theory. This left only racism and politics as the motives behind it. In early 2020, with little available evidence,\u00a0two op-eds in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/urldefense.com\/v3\/__https:\/\/www.thelancet.com\/journals\/lancet\/article\/PIIS0140-6736*2820*2930418-9\/fulltext__;JSU!!F0Stn7g!CNp1B8Kpm5wLo4ddcSRS2-NCy3iqoum8Z1dF8BgV0QzqumAWyghGdgRgCUp1vIgSiQ6I2pjK90l3ryPCddc$\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Lancet\u00a0<\/a>In February and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41591-020-0820-9\">Nature Medicine<\/a>\u00a0The denial was all-consuming. <\/p>\n<p>According to Lancet Op-Ed, &#8220;We stand together to strongly condemn conspiracy theories suggesting that Covid-19 does not have a natural origin.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>It was also important to not forget about large payments by the Chinese government for American universities, and grants from some of these authors to both Chinese interests, or the specific. <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2022\/12\/03\/scientist-with-ny-non-profit-tied-to-wuhan-lab-says-covid-man-made-virus\/\">Wuhan lab<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>It was not acceptable to make any reference to the laboratory theory. When Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) He had only mentioned it in 2020 to the Senate, but was slapped by the usual flash mob of media. The Washington Post\u00a0ridiculed him for repeating a &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/urldefense.com\/v3\/__https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/media-interested-now-in-covid-19-theory-they-said-couldnt-possibly-be-true__;!!F0Stn7g!CNp1B8Kpm5wLo4ddcSRS2-NCy3iqoum8Z1dF8BgV0QzqumAWyghGdgRgCUp1vIgSiQ6I2pjK90l3ad5aifs$\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Debunked coronavirus &#8220;conspiracy theory<\/a>.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"25916009\"><\/p>\n<p><\/button><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"25916009\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"wuhan lab theory\" class=\"wp-image-25916009\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?quality=75&#038;strip=all 4000w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=300, 169&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 300w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=768, 432&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 768w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=1024, 576&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=1536, 864&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=2048, 1152&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 2048w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=1064, 599&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 1064w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=444, 250&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 444w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=956, 538&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 956w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=878, 494&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 878w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=744, 419&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 744w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=160, 90&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 160w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=576, 324&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 576w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=478, 269&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 478w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=457, 257&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 457w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=440, 248&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 440w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=424, 239&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 424w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=389, 219&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 389w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=360, 203&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 360w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=340, 191&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 340w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=320, 180&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 320w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=314, 177&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 314w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=280, 158&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 280w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=260, 146&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 260w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=246, 138&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 246w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=234, 132&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 234w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=195, 110&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 195w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=180, 101&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 180w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=140, 79&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 140w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=107, 60&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 107w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=93, 52&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 93w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=84, 47&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 84w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=200, 113&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=231, 130&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 231w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=322, 181&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 322w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=87, 49&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 87w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=150, 84&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 150w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000007292234.jpg?resize=50, 28&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 50w\" \/><\/a><figcaption>One study\u00a0cited the lab leak theory as an example of &#8220;anti-Chinese racism.&#8221;<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">AFP via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"25916008\"><\/p>\n<p><\/button><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"25916008\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Wuhan Institute of Virology\" class=\"wp-image-25916008\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?quality=75&#038;strip=all 2000w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=300, 200&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 300w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=768, 512&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 768w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=1024, 682&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=1536, 1024&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=1064, 709&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 1064w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=375, 250&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 375w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=950, 633&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 950w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=878, 585&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 878w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=744, 496&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 744w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=135, 90&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 135w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=576, 384&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 576w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=474, 316&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 474w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=457, 305&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 457w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=440, 293&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 440w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=424, 282&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 424w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=389, 260&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 389w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=360, 240&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 360w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=340, 227&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 340w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=320, 213&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 320w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=314, 209&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 314w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=306, 204&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 306w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=280, 187&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 280w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=260, 174&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 260w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=246, 164&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 246w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=234, 156&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 234w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=195, 130&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 195w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=180, 120&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 180w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=171, 114&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 171w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=160, 107&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 160w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=144, 96&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 144w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=140, 93&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 140w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=107, 71&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 107w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=93, 62&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 93w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=84, 56&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 84w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=200, 133&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=231, 154&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 231w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=322, 215&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 322w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=87, 58&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 87w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=150, 100&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 150w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995705.jpg?resize=50, 33&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 50w\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Media and government joined forces to label anyone who raised the lab theory as conspiracists.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">AFP via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Dr. LiMeng Yan, a virologist, was a former postdoctoral fellow of the University of Hong Kong. &#8220;I can present solid scientific evidence \u2026  [that] it is a man-made virus created in the lab.&#8221; The left-leaning\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/urldefense.com\/v3\/__https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/politifact-retracts-wuhan-lab-theory-fact-check__;!!F0Stn7g!CNp1B8Kpm5wLo4ddcSRS2-NCy3iqoum8Z1dF8BgV0QzqumAWyghGdgRgCUp1vIgSiQ6I2pjK90l3VtHGGZE$\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">PolitiFact\u00a0slammed her<\/a>\u00a0She gave her a &#8220;pants on fire rating.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Biden accused Trump, President Donald Trump, of promoting racism through his criticism of China&#8217;s government in relation to the pandemic and his administration\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2023\/01\/30\/president-biden-to-end-covid-19-emergencies-on-may-11\/\">reportedly<\/a>\u00a0shut down the State Department investigation into the possible lab origins of the virus.\u00a0 <\/p>\n<p>When Biden later revived an investigation into the origins, he was denounced as &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/urldefense.com\/v3\/__https:\/\/morningstaronline.co.uk\/article\/w\/biden-bid-revive-covid-lab-origin-theory-just-sugar-coating-trumps-racism__;!!F0Stn7g!CNp1B8Kpm5wLo4ddcSRS2-NCy3iqoum8Z1dF8BgV0QzqumAWyghGdgRgCUp1vIgSiQ6I2pjK90l3psD8yQ8$\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sugar-coating Trump&#8217;s racism<\/a>.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The categorical rejection of the lab theory is only the latest media narrative proven to be false. The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2022\/03\/15\/russia-sanctions-joe-and-hunter-biden-hillary-clinton-more\/\">Russian collusion scandal<\/a>, the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2022\/12\/19\/fbi-reached-out-to-twitter-before-post-broke-hunter-biden-laptop-story\/\">Hunter Biden <\/a>&#8220;Russian disinformation,&#8221; the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2021\/06\/09\/dcs-lafayette-square-was-not-cleared-for-trumps-bible-photo-op-watchdog\/\">Lafayette Park<\/a> &#8220;photo op&#8221; conspiracy, the\u00a0Nick Sandmann controversy, the\u00a0Jussie Smollett case, the\u00a0migrant whipping scandal.<\/p>\n<p>On the lab theory, media like the Washington Post piled on senators like Cotton and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) for mentioning the lab theory, only later to admit that it could be legitimate. <\/p>\n<p>All of those experts and writers who were called racists or suspended by social media were simply forgotten in media coverage.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995699-e1677429463866.jpg\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"25916033\"><\/p>\n<p><\/button><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"25916033\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995699.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"a laboratory technician working on samples from people to be tested for the new coronavirus at laboratory in Wuhan\" class=\"wp-image-25916033\" \/><\/a><figcaption>A laboratory technician working on samples from people to be tested for the coronavirus at a laboratory in Wuhan.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">AFP via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>That is why this is really about censorship. <\/p>\n<p>The media guaranteed that we did not have a full debate over the origins of the virus and attacked those who had the temerity to state the obvious that there was a plausible basis for suspecting the Wuhan lab.<\/p>\n<p>None of this has diminished demands for more censorship. Even after Twitter admitted that it wrongly blocked the New York Post story before the 2020 election, Democratic senators responded by warning the company not to cut back on censorship and\u00a0even demanded more <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/tag\/censorship\/\">censorship<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Recently, the &#8220;Twitter files&#8221; revealed an extensive and secret FBI effort to censor citizens on social media. <\/p>\n<p>This included\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/urldefense.com\/v3\/__https:\/\/jonathanturley.org\/2023\/01\/07\/we-dont-do-this-adam-schiff-and-the-underbelly-of-american-censorship\/__;!!F0Stn7g!CNp1B8Kpm5wLo4ddcSRS2-NCy3iqoum8Z1dF8BgV0QzqumAWyghGdgRgCUp1vIgSiQ6I2pjK90l31nj7eps$\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">undisclosed efforts<\/a>\u00a0by members like Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) to get Twitter to ban a columnist and target critics. In a House hearing, Democratic leaders like Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md). called for more censorship and\u00a0opposed investigations into the censorship efforts.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"25916030\"><\/p>\n<p><\/button><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"25916030\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Wuhan lab\" class=\"wp-image-25916030\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?quality=75&#038;strip=all 5285w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=300, 200&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 300w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=768, 511&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 768w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=1024, 681&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=1536, 1022&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=2048, 1362&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 2048w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=1064, 709&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 1064w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=376, 250&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 376w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=952, 633&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 952w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=878, 584&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 878w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=744, 496&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 744w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=135, 90&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 135w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=576, 383&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 576w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=475, 316&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 475w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=457, 305&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 457w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=440, 293&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 440w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=424, 282&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 424w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=389, 260&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 389w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=360, 240&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 360w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=340, 227&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 340w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=320, 213&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 320w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=314, 209&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 314w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=306, 204&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 306w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=280, 187&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 280w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=260, 174&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 260w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=246, 164&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 246w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=234, 156&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 234w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=195, 130&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 195w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=180, 120&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 180w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=171, 114&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 171w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=160, 107&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 160w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=144, 96&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 144w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=140, 93&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 140w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=107, 71&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 107w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=93, 62&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 93w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=84, 56&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 84w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=200, 133&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=231, 154&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 231w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=322, 214&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 322w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=87, 58&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 87w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=150, 100&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 150w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/NYPICHPDPICT000003995704.jpg?resize=50, 33&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 50w\" \/><\/a><figcaption>There has been debate over the origin of the coronavirus for years. <\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">EPA\/SHEPHERD ZHOU <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>These same figures in politics and media are just moving on to the next approved narrative.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2022\/09\/15\/biden-announces-push-to-end-big-tech-immunity-2-years-after-trump-attempt\/\">Biden previously<\/a>\u00a0called for more censorship and accused Big Tech of &#8220;killing people&#8221; by not censoring more views deemed &#8220;COVID misinformation.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>The opposite is true. By suppressing alternative scientific and policy views, the public was denied a full debate over mask efficacy, <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/tag\/covid-vaccine\/\">vaccine<\/a> side effects, COVID origins and other important issues. Many of those questions are only now being recognized as legitimate and worthy of debate.<\/p>\n<p>Censorship does not, as Biden claims, save lives. <\/p>\n<p>It is more likely to cost lives by protecting approved views from challenge. It does not foster the truth any more than it fosters free speech. Whatever the origin of COVID-19 may be in China, the origin of our censorship scandal is closer to home.<\/p>\n<p><em>Jonathan Turley is an attorney and a professor at George Washington University Law School.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The\u00a0Wall Street Journal\u00a0According to reports, Energy Department has concluded that\u00a0Pandemic COVID\u00a0Most likely, it was caused by a laboratory leak. This conclusion is believed to be based upon a classified intelligence report that was recently sent to the White House, and other key members of Congress. Many will investigate why the scientific evidence for a lab &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1861993,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[547],"tags":[6371,4127,5045,7546,8459,3654,4188,4633,7547],"class_list":["post-1861990","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-bongino-report","tag-censorship","tag-covid","tag-government","tag-jonathan","tag-lab","tag-leak","tag-media","tag-scandal","tag-turley"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1861990","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1861990"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1861990\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1861993"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1861990"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1861990"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1861990"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}