CIA now backs lab leak theory to explain origins of Covid-19

Analysis released by new director, John Ratcliffe, suggests the agency believes totality of evidence makes a lab origin

The CIA now believes the virus responsible for the coronavirus pandemic most likely originated from a laboratory, according to an assessment released on Saturday that points the finger at China even while acknowledging that the spy agency has “low confidence” in its own conclusion.

The finding is not the result of any new intelligence, and the report was completed at the behest of the Biden administration and former CIA director William Burns. It was declassified and released on Saturday on the orders of president Donald Trump’s pick to lead the agency, John Ratcliffe, who was sworn in as director on Thursday.

Topics

CIA now says COVID most likely originated from a lab leak

The CIA now believes the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic most likely originated from a laboratory.
CBS News - 8h
CIA believes COVID likely originated from a lab, but agency has low confidence in its own finding

The CIA now believes the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic likely originated from a laboratory
ABC News - 1d
CIA believes Covid-19 likely caused by lab leak, NBC News reports

"CIA continues to assess that both research-related and natural origin scenarios of the COVID-19 pandemic remain plausible."
CNBC - 1d
CIA says Covid-19 probably leaked from Chinese laboratory

US intelligence agency changes assessment of pandemic’s likely origins
Financial Times - 12h
CIA says lab leak most likely source of Covid outbreak

But the US intelligence agency cautions it has "low confidence" in this new determination.
BBC News - 1d
CIA shifts theory on COVID origin: Reports

The Central Intelligence Agency said COVID-19 likely originated from a lab leak in China in a Saturday statement, pivoting from a previously neutral stance just a few days after Director John ...
The Hill - 1d
C.I.A. Now Favors Lab Leak Theory to Explain Covid’s Origins

A new analysis that began under the Biden administration is released by the C.I.A.’s new director, John Ratcliffe, who wants the agency to get “off the sidelines” in the debate.
The New York Times - 1d
CIA shifts assessment on Covid origins, saying lab leak likely caused outbreak

The Central Intelligence Agency on Saturday said it has shifted its previous assessments and has concluded that it’s likely the Covid-19 virus was leaked from a Chinese lab before it became a ...
NBC News - 1d
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