Fauci denies calling lab leak theory a conspiracy: ‘I’ve also been very, very clear’

WASHINGTON (TND) — Dr. Anthony Fauci repeatedly denied allegations Monday he attempted to suppress theories the COVID-19 pandemic originated from a lab leak in Wuhan, China.

Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), appeared before the House Oversight Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic Monday. In his opening statement, he described Jan. 2020 phone calls where some international scientists raised concerns the virus may have been “manipulated in a lab” or the result of “a spillover from an animal reservoir.” Fauci claimed before the committee he “did not try to steer the discussion in any direction.”

Later during questioning, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., pressed the former NIAID director on the assertion.

“Today, you testified that you did not suppress the lab leak theory. Yet in the past, you have said, ‘it is a distortion of reality,” Rep. Malliotakis said. “So, would you like to clarify what science were you following then versus now?”

Actually, I’ve also been very, very clear and said multiple times that I don’t think the ‘concept’ of there being a lab leak is inherently a conspiracy theory,” Fauci responded. “What is conspiracy is the kind of distortions of that particular subject, like it was a lab leak and I was parachuted into the CIA like Jason Bourne and told the CIA that they should really not be talking about a lab leak.”

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In a separate exchange, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, asked Fauci whether he agrees “there was a push to downplay the lab leak theory.”

None on my part,” the former NIAID director asserted.

In April, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., launched a bipartisan investigation into the origins of the pandemic. The Republican noted at the time he, alongside Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., would also examine how public funds are used in life science research.

The U.S. Department of Energy assessed in early 2023 the COVID-19 pandemic most likely arose due to a lab leak, joining the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with the determination.