Official FBI press release or statement

Investigations Reveal COVID-19 Virus Mapped by Chinese Researchers Before Public Disclosure; FBI and Department of Energy Assess Wuhan Lab Origin

Dec 26, 2024, 10:23 AM

Recent investigations have revealed that Chinese researchers mapped the virus responsible for COVID-19 at least two weeks prior to Beijing's public disclosure of the virus details. This information, reported by congressional investigators, aligns with ongoing discussions about the origins of COVID-19, which have historically been contentious. The Wall Street Journal has highlighted that the lab leak hypothesis, previously dismissed as a conspiracy theory, has gained traction among intelligence experts, with the FBI and the Department of Energy suggesting that the virus may have originated from a laboratory in Wuhan. However, disagreements within the intelligence community regarding this assessment remain significant and not fully disclosed to the public. The discourse surrounding the origins of COVID-19 continues to evolve, reflecting deeper divisions among scientists and intelligence officials regarding the implications of these findings.