Tulsi Gabbard drops bombshell claim on Covid-19 origins, says top US scientist gave money to Chinese lab behind coronavirus

A fresh controversy has emerged in the United States after former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released declassified documents on the final day of her tenure. The documents allegedly claim that former top US health official Dr. Anthony Fauci approved funding for research at China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology, a laboratory that has long been at the center of debates over the origins of COVID-19. The disclosure was made on June 19 and has reignited discussions about whether the coronavirus pandemic may have originated from a laboratory accident rather than a natural source. Gabbard said the newly released records reveal details that were previously hidden from the public and lawmakers.

Documents Link Fauci to Wuhan Research Funding

According to the documents released by Gabbard’s office, millions of dollars in US taxpayer funds were allegedly directed toward research involving bat coronaviruses at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. The records claim that the funding supported gain-of-function research, a type of scientific study that can increase the transmissibility or severity of viruses. Critics of such research have argued for years that it may have contributed to the emergence of COVID-19, though the exact origin of the virus remains a subject of debate among scientists and intelligence agencies.

Allegations of Suppressing the Lab-Leak Theory

Gabbard also accused Fauci of helping suppress evidence supporting the lab-leak theory. According to the released documents, intelligence assessments may have been influenced to favor the theory that the virus emerged naturally. The former intelligence chief alleged that Fauci worked with officials inside the intelligence community to downplay alternative explanations and mislead Congress during testimony in 2024. Fauci has not publicly responded to the latest allegations.

Whistleblower Claims and Political Fallout

The documents further claim that experts and whistleblowers who challenged the official narrative faced intimidation and professional consequences. Gabbard described the alleged actions as part of a broader effort to prevent scrutiny of the Wuhan research program. The release has intensified political debate in Washington and is likely to trigger renewed calls for investigations into the origins of COVID-19 and the role of US-funded overseas research projects. The allegations come amid broader disclosures by Gabbard regarding US-funded biological research programs around the world.