Newly confirmed Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director John Ratcliffe is launching a probe into what the United States intelligence community knew regarding the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, Radcliffe is directing investigators to review evidence held by the CIA and others that indicated the virus leaked from a laboratory in Wuhan, China.
The CIA has faced scrutiny regarding its analysis of COVID-19’s origins. Allegations surfaced that agency analysts were influenced to dismiss the possibility of a lab leak. While the virus’s emergence in China is undisputed, the lab-origin theory has gained renewed attention.
Ratcliffe, who was sworn in after his confirmation on Thursday, also slammed his predecessor, John Brennan, for leading the agency astray during President Barack Obama’s tenure. “It would be fair to say his tenure was one of the worst things that has ever happened to the agency,” the new CIA director said.
Threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) will also be a top priority under Ratcliffe. He highlighted, referencing conversations with President Donald Trump, the significance of understanding the origins of COVID-19, which he believes are linked to the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Ratcliffe has committed to addressing this issue transparently and promptly.
Hellbound and Down 