Wenstrup to Hold Hearing with “Proximal Origins” Authors
Select Subcommittee seeks to uncover why the lab-leak hypothesis was suppressed and vilified
WASHINGTON — Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic Chairman Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) will hold a hearing titled “Investigating the Proximal Origin of a Cover Up” to examine the potential conflicts of interest and suppression of scientific discourse by the National Institutes of Health surrounding the drafting, publication, and critical reception of the infamous “The Proximal Origin of SARS-CoV-2” (“Proximal Origins”) correspondence. Previous evidence uncovered by the Select Subcommittee directly revealed that Dr. Fauci prompted the drafting of “Proximal Origins” to disprove the lab leak theory in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In response, the Select Subcommittee conducted transcribed interviews with every U.S.-based contributor to the paper and announced its first subpoena for private communications between the co-authors. This hearing will assess whether America’s leading health officials acted to downplay the lab leak theory and evaluate the long-term consequences of stifling scientific debate to fit a desired narrative.
“With insufficient evidence in hand and Dr. Fauci’s prompting as protection, ‘Proximal Origins’ seemingly became one of the most egregious cover-ups of the COVID-19 pandemic. Robust scientific discourse was abandoned in pursuit of a preferred, coordinated narrative. The origination of a virus that killed seven million people worldwide requires a thorough and comprehensive investigation — not a snap judgment based on questionable motives.
“These scientists have essential information to share with Americans about the cover-up of the origins of COVID-19 and the potential suppression of the lab-leak hypothesis by Dr. Fauci, Dr. Collins, and other public health authorities. A complete look at all the facts is necessary, and the truth is nonnegotiable. The Select Subcommittee looks forward to their testimony as we continue to investigate the origins of COVID-19,” said Chairman Brad Wenstrup.
WHAT: Hearing titled “Investigating the Proximal Origin of a Cover Up”
DATE: Tuesday, July 11, 2023
TIME: 10:00 AM ET
LOCATION: 2154 Rayburn House Office Building
WITNESSES (as invited):
Dr. Kristian Andersen
Professor
Scripps Research
Dr. Andrew Rambaut
Professor
University of Edinburgh
Dr. W. Ian Lipkin
John Snow Professor of Epidemiology
Columbia University
Dr. Edward Holmes
Professor of Virology
University of Sydney
Dr. Robert Garry
Professor
Tulane University School of Medicine
The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be livestreamed online at https://oversight.house.gov/. Press must be congressionally credentialed and must RSVP by emailing oversightgoppressrsvp@mail.house.gov by Monday, July 10 at 5:00pm.
Read More:
Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic Subpoena: Dr. Kristian Andersen
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