House Dems Lash Out at Journalist Who Raised Alarm Over Lab Leak

House Democrats were charged with investigating coronavirus origins. They spent much of Wednesday attacking credibility of one witness.

Former members were repeatedly criticised by the Select Subcommittee on Coronavirus Pandemic. New York Times Nicholas Wade is an editor and one of the most prominent proponents now well-known theories that the coronavirus was caused by a leak in Wuhan, China’s lab. Instead of asking Wade about his lab leak theory which was embraced by both the FBI and Energy Departments, they grilled Wade about a book he had written in 2014 that promotes racist stereotypes about genetics.

Raul Ruiz, a Democratic member from California, stated that Wade shouldn’t be allowed to participate in an inquiry about the matter. “origins of a pandemic that has disproportionately and overwhelmingly harmed communities of color.” Reps. Kweisi Mfume (D., Md.) Jill Tokuda from Hawaii (D., Md.) also lambasted Wade. Wade claimed he wasn’t racist and didn’t have any prejudices. “have anything in common with the views of white supremacists.”

These allegations are similar to those made against the proponents in early stages of the pandemic. Wade endorsed this theory in a landmark May 2021 paper that presented evidence pointing at a Wuhan Institute of Virology-related leak. Early in the pandemics, many dismissed the idea of a lab leak. Liberals suggested its supporters were encouraging racist views about Chinese people.

Wade’s book, The Troublesome Inheritance: Genetics, Race, and Human History Uses information obtained from the human genome mapping dismiss It is the idea that race can be a social construct. The author Wall Street Journal Charles Murray, political scientist praised noting that its argument had been rebutted by others. “political correctness.”

Mfume said Wednesday that Wade’s idea of a laboratory leak fuelled anti-Asian sentiments. Wade had promoted “a”. “conspiracy theory that somehow other minorities are so genetically different that they are culpable in some sort of way.”

Despite focusing on Wade, Democrats insist they are open to exploring the possibility of a lab leak. Ruiz claimed that Democrats “take seriously the charge of determining the coronavirus.” Tokuda stated “we need to understand the origins of COVID-19.” Relatively, only one Democrat asked questions about the laboratory leak theory, Rep. Debbie Dingell (Mich.).

Wade claimed during the hearing “the media was used” Some scientists discredit the laboratory leak theory and favor the “natural origin” Hypothesis, in which the virus is believed to have been transmitted from unidentified animals.

Robert Redfield, former director of the CDC, testified that the worst culprit was an accident lab leak. Redfield, who supported Wade’s claim to be an innocent witness. “outstanding science reporter,” He stated that both the biochemical characteristics and the Chinese government’s early response to the pandemic supported the laboratory leak theory. He stated that the Chinese military had taken over Wuhan Institute, replacing the laboratory’s ventilation system. These steps he claimed were necessary. “highly unusual.”