House Republicans plan hearing on COVID-19 origins intelligence

Formerly maligned as a conspiracy theory, the notion of a WIV lab leak as the cause of the pandemic has increasingly gained traction with federal agencies.

By Ben Whedon

Published: April 11, 2023 7:16pm

The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic will hold a hearing next week to address intelligence related to the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The origination of COVID-19 is not only a public health issue but also a question of national security," Chairman Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio, said in a press release. "Examining the intelligence behind where and how this virus began will help our country prepare for future national security threats and hold China accountable for its role in this crisis."

"As government agencies continue to hide the truth about the origins of COVID-19, the Select Subcommittee is committed to furthering our investigation and following the breadcrumbs and money wherever they lead," he continued. "We look forward to hearing more about available American intelligence and Chinese culpability from our witnesses next week. It’s time for accountability."

Former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe and Former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs David Feith will testify at the April 18 hearing.

The committee previously held a hearing in March to address evidence that the pandemic likely resulted from a lab leak at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which was known to be researching coronaviruses at the time.

Formerly maligned as a conspiracy theory, the notion of a WIV lab leak as the cause of the pandemic has increasingly gained traction with federal agencies, such as the Department of Energy.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.