In one of the most overt displays of political solidarity, the House of Representatives has voted overwhelmingly in favor of a bipartisan measure to declassify all intelligence related to the origins of COVID-19.
The vote, which passed with 419-0, follows a similar unanimous vote by the Senate last week.
If signed into law, the bill would require the release of all intelligence on COVID-19 within 90 days, including any information on potential links between the virus and Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV).
The WIV has been the subject of much speculation regarding the origin of COVID-19. Recent assessments by both the Department of Energy and FBI suggest that COVID-19 most likely originated from a leak at the WIV, a theory previously dismissed as a conspiracy by top medical and science officials.
Despite growing calls for transparency, investigations into COVID-19’s origins have been impeded by China’s reluctance to provide access and information to investigators. Beijing has even suggested that COVID-19 was not originally from Wuhan but instead created by the U.S. military.
Republicans continue to advocate for the theory that COVID-19 originated from a lab leak, which they believe is the most probable explanation for the pandemic. According to Fox News, Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH), who chairs the House Permanent Select Intelligence Committee, believes that the American public deserves answers to every aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic, including how it was created and whether it resulted from a lab-related event or occurred naturally.
Turner stated that his committee is aware of classified information that could potentially support the lab leak theory and demonstrate why it is not just a possibility but a likely scenario.
