{"id":2293746,"date":"2024-07-12T18:15:01","date_gmt":"2024-07-12T22:15:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-nih-chief-of-staff-denies-lab-leak-theory-censorship\/"},"modified":"2024-07-12T18:20:12","modified_gmt":"2024-07-12T22:20:12","slug":"former-nih-chief-of-staff-denies-lab-leak-theory-censorship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-nih-chief-of-staff-denies-lab-leak-theory-censorship\/","title":{"rendered":"Former NIH Chief Of Staff Denies Lab Leak Theory Censorship"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/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%2Fformer-nih-chief-of-staff-denies-lab-leak-theory-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=2293746&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--><p>Carrie\u200b Wolinetz,\u2062 former Chief\u2064 of Staff at the National Institutes of Health, denied claims of censorship regarding the &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tom-cotton-responds-to-ex-cdc-chiefs-belief-that-pandemic-started-in-lab-this-was-never-a-conspiracy-theory\/\" title=\"Tom Cotton Responds To Ex-CDC Chief\u2019s Belief That Pandemic Started In Lab: \u2018This Was Never A Conspiracy Theory\u2019\">lab leak theory<\/a>&#8221; during\u200d the Covid-19\u200b pandemic.\u200b Senator Josh Hawley\u200c questioned her about censoring online discussions on the\u2062 theory, which suggests the virus originated from a Chinese lab. Despite Wolinetz&#8217;s \u2062denial, there are instances indicating censorship did occur, \u2062such as Facebook labeling reports on the theory as &#8220;false claims.&#8221; The FBI and Energy Department \u2064have\u200b supported\u200b the plausibility of the lab leak theory. Senator Rand Paul stated that Wolinetz would not be considered for a position in a proposed independent entity \u2064within the Executive Branch due to her denial of\u200b censorship \u2063efforts.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Carrie Wolinetz, former Chief of Staff at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), claimed Thursday  that the so-called \u201clab leak theory\u201d was not censored during the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n<p>During the Senate Homeland Security hearing, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., questioned Wolinetz about her involvement in censoring online discussions about the theory, which proposed the virus escaped from a Chinese lab. Howley asked whether she regrets not opposing censorship efforts from her boss, former NIH Director Francis Collins, or from Anthony Fauci.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo you regret your role in helping censor millions of Americans who were kicked off <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/why-this-average-american-is-voting-for-donald-trump\/\" title=\"Why This Average American Is Voting for Donald Trump\">social media<\/a>, who were disciplined at work for saying \u2018maybe a lab was involved?\u2019\u201d Hawley asked.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI do not believe I ever had the role that you are describing,\u201d Wolinetz said.<\/p>\n<p>Hawley asked directly, \u201cDo you regret not opposing the censorship?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t believe censorship took place, sir,\u201d Wolinetz responded.<\/p>\n<p>Due to Wolinetz\u2019s denial of censorship efforts, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hsgac.senate.gov\/media\/reps\/dr-paul-introduces-risky-research-review-act-to-oversee-gain-of-function-research-funding\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">introduced<\/a> legislation to create a board overseeing federal funding for high-risk life sciences research and ensuring agency accountability, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hsgac.senate.gov\/hearings\/risky-research-oversight-of-u-s-taxpayer-funded-high-risk-virus-research\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">stated<\/a> that Wolinetz would not be considered for a position in the proposed independent entity within the Executive Branch.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<p><span><\/p>\n<blockquote data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<div lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<p>This top &#8220;scientist&#8221; who was Chief of Staff at NIH during COVID just told me she doesn&#8217;t think any censorship took place under Fauci\u2019s reign. None. <\/p>\n<p>What world is she living in?? <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/EUjjZaXvPd\">pic.twitter.com\/EUjjZaXvPd<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u2014 Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/HawleyMO\/status\/1811430342298861780?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 11, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><\/span> <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-us-canada-64806903\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FBI<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2023\/02\/28\/1160157977\/u-s-dept-of-energy-says-with-low-confidence-that-covid-may-have-leaked-from-a-la\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Energy Department<\/a> have stated there\u2019s strong evidence supporting the plausibility of the lab leak theory.<\/p>\n<p>Despite Wolinetz\u2019s denial, several instances indicate censorship did, in fact, occur.<\/p>\n<p>Facebook <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2021\/05\/27\/facebook-shows-true-and-ugly-colors-with-wuhan-stories-ban-uk-pols\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">censored<\/a> reports related to the lab leak theory, labeling it a \u201cfalse claim.\u201d The Biden White House <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/opinion\/white-house\/563547-hypocritical-psaki-leads-chilling-effort-to-flag-misinformation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">requested<\/a> Facebook to suppress what they termed \u201cdisinformation,\u201d including requests for them to censor private WhatsApp messages, as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/public\/resources\/documents\/17549-0409.pdf?mod=article_inline\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">revealed<\/a> in a series of emails released in 2023 during the discovery phase of the free speech case <em>Missouri v. Biden<\/em>. <\/p>\n<p>Since Elon Musk\u2019s release of the \u201cTwitter Files,\u201d it was exposed that Twitter (now X) significantly <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/02\/21\/the-twitter-files-reveal-big-techs-unholy-alliance-with-the-feds-exists-to-control-you\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">expanded<\/a> its practice of accepting content moderation requests from the intelligence community, the State Department, and various federal and state agencies during the pandemic.<\/p>\n<p>Along with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/facebook-bans-gop-account-allows-inflammatory-dnc-ads\/\" title=\"Facebook bans GOP account, allows inflammatory DNC ads\">social media giants<\/a>, the government <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/media\/what-elon-musks-twitter-files-uncovered-about-tech-giant\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">colluded<\/a> to suppress the Hunter Biden laptop story, blacklist prominent conservative voices, and shadowban conservative content. Additionally, the files revealed both the Trump and Biden administrations pressured Twitter to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/a-judge-blocked-the-feds-from-meeting-with-social-media-giants-heres-how-the-government-colluded-with-big-tech\/\" title=\"Judge blocks government from meeting social media giants; reveals government collusion with big tech.\">moderate pandemic-related content<\/a> according to their preferences.<\/p>\n<p>Records <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/06\/30\/records-suggest-top-nih-official-squashed-lab-leak-theory-for-fauci-used-personal-email-to-hide-it\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">obtained<\/a> by House Republicans indicate that former Fauci adviser David Morens downplayed the lab leak theory to the media at Fauci\u2019s behest. <\/p>\n<p>The documents also \u201csuggest that you may have used your personal e-mail to avoid transparency and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/records-suggest-top-nih-official-squashed-lab-leak-theory-for-fauci-used-personal-email-to-hide-it\/\" title=\"NIH Official Allegedly Suppressed Lab-Leak Theory for Fauci, Concealed Evidence via Personal Email\">potentially intentionally deleted federal records<\/a>,\u201d Rep. Brad Wenstrup, the chair of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, wrote in a letter to Morens.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>      Arianna Villarreal is a summer intern at The Federalist.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>During a Senate hearing, Carrie Wolinetz, former Chief of Staff at the NIH, denied any involvement in censoring discussions about the lab leak theory during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, evidence suggests that censorship did occur, with social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter suppressing content related to the theory. Additionally, government officials, including Fauci and the Biden administration, were implicated in pressuring social media companies to moderate content according to their preferences. Records also indicate that a former Fauci adviser downplayed the lab leak theory to the media at Fauci&#8217;s request<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3178,"featured_media":2293747,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Screenshot-2024-07-11-at-3.25.01%E2%80%AFPM.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[8858,3692,34862,16583],"class_list":["post-2293746","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist","tag-chief-of-staff","tag-former","tag-lab-leak-theory","tag-nih"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Screenshot-2024-07-11-at-3.25.01%E2%80%AFPM.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2293746","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\/3178"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2293746"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2293746\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2293747"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2293746"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2293746"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2293746"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}