Official CIA statements or reports

CIA Under John Ratcliffe Favors Lab Leak Theory at Wuhan Institute of Virology for Covid-19 Origins, With Low Confidence

Jan 25, 2025, 06:27 PM

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has shifted its stance on the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic, now favoring the lab leak theory over the natural emergence hypothesis. This new assessment, which was initiated under the Biden administration, has been released by the newly appointed CIA Director John Ratcliffe. The agency's analysts have concluded that the virus likely originated from an accidental leak at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan, China. This conclusion is based on a reevaluation of existing evidence, particularly focusing on conditions in high-security labs in Wuhan before the outbreak. The CIA's position was made public with 'low confidence', indicating that while the lab leak theory is favored, other theories remain plausible. Ratcliffe has emphasized his intention to thoroughly investigate the origins of Covid-19, stating that understanding the source of the virus is a priority for the agency.