The office of U.S. Director of National Intelligence Office of the Director of National Intelligence has released declassified materials on the final day in office of former director Tulsi Gabbard, alleging that former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases chief Anthony Fauci directed U.S. funding toward gain-of-function research involving bat coronaviruses at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
According to the ODNI, the documents and communications are described as “never-before-seen” and are the result of a year-long declassification review, Caliber.Az reports per the statement.
The materials allege that Fauci provided “millions in US taxpayer dollars” to support research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which some officials and analysts have associated with a potential laboratory-related origin of COVID-19. The ODNI statement further claims the materials indicate coordination between Fauci and “politicised career leadership in the Intelligence Community” to suppress or shape information regarding the lab-leak hypothesis and U.S. funding for the research.
The release also asserts that Fauci influenced intelligence assessments on the origins of COVID-19 and disputes his testimony before Congress in 2024, claiming he denied involvement in discussions with intelligence officials regarding viral research.
In a statement accompanying the release, Gabbard said the COVID-19 pandemic “caused tremendous hardship and pain for millions of our fellow Americans and for countless people around the world,” and added: “After years of lies, censorship, and cover ups, the American people deserve transparency, truth, and accountability.”
She further stated: “The tactics used to hide the truth are straight from the deep state playbook: politicized self-serving leaders like Dr. Fauci covered up their own wrongdoing and abuses of power, manipulated intelligence, lied to Congress, and undermined a duly elected President by restricting his access to vital facts needed to keep the country safe. It’s time the American people learn the real story.”
The ODNI said the materials were compiled as part of a broader declassification review that included testimony from whistleblowers who alleged retaliation for challenging intelligence assessments on the origins of the virus. The agency characterised the findings as indicating a pattern of suppressed dissent and politicisation within parts of the intelligence community.
By Sabina Mammadli
