Tulsi Gabbard Releases Documents Alleging Fauci Misled Congress On COVID Origins

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released a trove of newly declassified documents Thursday that she says expose Dr. Anthony Fauci’s involvement in funding controversial coronavirus research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, influencing intelligence assessments on COVID-19’s origins and misleading Congress during sworn testimony.

The release came on Gabbard’s final day as Director of National Intelligence and was accompanied by a lengthy statement accusing Fauci and elements within the Intelligence Community of suppressing information related to the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to an ODNI news release, the newly disclosed communications and documents were uncovered during what Gabbard described as a yearlong declassification review conducted in support of President Donald Trump’s transparency initiative. Gabbard alleged that the materials show Fauci, while serving as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, directed millions of taxpayer dollars toward gain-of-function coronavirus research at China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology.

“After years of lies, censorship, and cover ups, the American people deserve transparency, truth, and accountability,” Gabbard said in a video announcing the release. She further alleged that Fauci worked with “politicized career leadership” within the Intelligence Community to suppress evidence supporting the lab-leak theory and conceal his role in funding the research.

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The documents released by ODNI reportedly include hundreds of emails and communications between intelligence officials and scientists during the pandemic. According to Gabbard, the records demonstrate that intelligence agencies frequently relied on recommendations from Fauci and scientists connected to research funded by NIAID when evaluating the origins of COVID-19.

Among the most serious allegations is the claim that Fauci provided inaccurate testimony during a 2024 appearance before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic. Gabbard asserted that correspondence contained in the release contradicts Fauci’s sworn statements regarding whether he had communicated with intelligence agencies about viral research and the origins of COVID-19.

The release also includes allegations from Intelligence Community whistleblowers who claimed analysts faced retaliation for supporting the lab-leak hypothesis or questioning official conclusions. According to ODNI, some whistleblowers reported being marginalized, denied advancement opportunities or subjected to intimidation after expressing dissenting views.

Gabbard highlighted several examples outlined in the report, including claims that a contractor was terminated shortly after coming forward as a whistleblower and that analysts were warned promotions could be affected by their positions on the virus-origin debate.

The COVID-19 origins debate has remained one of the most contentious issues stemming from the pandemic. While some federal agencies have previously assessed that a laboratory incident is the most likely explanation for the outbreak, others have maintained varying levels of confidence in competing theories involving natural transmission.

Fauci has repeatedly denied allegations that he funded gain-of-function research responsible for creating COVID-19 and has previously defended his actions during the pandemic. As of Thursday evening, there was no immediate public response from Fauci to Gabbard’s latest accusations.

The newly released documents are expected to generate renewed scrutiny of both the government’s pandemic response and the years-long debate surrounding the origins of COVID-19. Congressional Republicans have long argued that additional transparency is needed regarding federal funding of overseas virus research, while critics have accused government officials of downplaying evidence supporting a possible lab leak.

Gabbard said the release is intended to provide Americans with information she believes was withheld from the public for years.

“It’s time you know the truth,” she said.