CIA supports theory that coronavirus pandemic was caused by leak from Chinese lab

There are two prevailing theories about the origin of the new coronavirus: 'It originated from a coronavirus that mutated at a wet market in Wuhan' and 'It originated from a coronavirus that leaked from a laboratory in Wuhan.' It has recently been revealed that the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) supports the theory that it leaked from a laboratory in Wuhan.

Exclusive — CIA Director Ratcliffe: 'Day-One Thing' to Get to Bottom of Chinese 'Origins of COVID,' Wuhan Lab Leak
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/01/24/exclusive-cia-director-ratcliffe-day-one-thing-chinese-origins-covid-wuhan-lab-leak/

CIA Now Favors Lab Leak Theory to Explain Covid's Origins - The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/25/us/politics/cia-covid-lab-leak.html

The theory that the new coronavirus leaked from a laboratory in Wuhan has been circulating since the early days of the pandemic, but in February 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported the results of an investigation stating that ' it is unlikely that the virus leaked from a laboratory .' However, there were multiple indications that there were problems with the WHO's investigation, and in May 2021, researchers from Harvard University and other institutions called for a reinvestigation in the major academic journal Science magazine to determine whether the virus had leaked from the laboratory.

18 scientists demand reinvestigation of 'Wuhan laboratory leak theory' of new coronavirus - GIGAZINE

In addition, in February 2023, the US Department of Energy submitted a report supporting the theory of leakage from the laboratory. Also, in February 2023, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) made a statement supporting the theory of leakage from the laboratory .

US government agency concludes that COVID-19 'most likely leaked from a Chinese laboratory' - GIGAZINE

Regarding the origin of the new coronavirus, the CIA has stated that there is insufficient information to conclude whether it was a natural outbreak at a wet market in Wuhan or leaked from a laboratory in Wuhan. However, John Ratcliffe, who was appointed as the new CIA director under the Donald Trump administration, said on January 23, 2025, 'My first task in my term is to determine the origin of the new coronavirus. I have publicly stated that I believe that the new coronavirus leaked from a laboratory in Wuhan. However, the CIA has not evaluated this theory, at least publicly. I intend to focus on the laboratory leak theory and scrutinize the information to show the public that the CIA is moving away from a bystander position. ' He declared that the investigation into the origin of the new coronavirus will be a priority for the CIA.

Later, on January 25, 2025, The New York Times reported that 'the CIA supports the theory that the new coronavirus leaked from a laboratory in Wuhan.' According to a CIA official, no new evidence was found for the laboratory leak theory, but the leak theory was supported by analysis of the evidence that had been collected up to that point. However, the official said that the theory that 'the virus naturally emerged in a wet market in Wuhan' is still valid.

A CIA source also said, 'Director Ratcliffe's comments did not cause the CIA to change its stance, and an evaluation supporting the theory of a leak from the laboratory had been prepared for some time.'