Senators Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Mike Braun (R-IN) have sent a strongly worded letter to Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, demanding the release of all information related to the origins of COVID-19. The senators accuse Haines of failing to comply with a law they introduced, which requires the declassification of any information linking the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the pandemic's origin. The deadline for compliance was June 18, 2023, but the senators contend that the five-page report released on June 23rd is insufficient and does not fulfill the statutory requirements.
The senators express concern over what they perceive as the Biden administration's deference to China, citing examples such as downplaying the significance of Chinese intelligence activities. They suggest that the administration is withholding information to avoid straining relations with Beijing. Hawley and Braun demand a comprehensive document within seven business days, with minimal redactions, and threaten to call Haines before Congress for questioning under oath if their demands are not met.
This action follows increasing scrutiny of the Biden administration and the ODNI after the release of a brief report on the potential links between the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the COVID-19 pandemic. The report, which analyzed the U.S. intelligence community's understanding of the Wuhan institute, stated that both natural and laboratory-associated origins remain plausible hypotheses. While the intelligence community has not reached a definitive conclusion, the senators insist on full transparency and the release of all relevant information to the American public.
