After sending letters to 15 federal agencies about a 2018 grant proposal linked to COVID-like microbe research, Sen. Rand Paul claimed he found the “smoking gun” that critics had been searching for. He alleges that this research, which aimed to create a virus similar to COVID-19, is tied to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and contradicts Dr. Anthony Fauci’s previous denials.
According to Paul, a Marine Corps whistleblower alerted him to this research proposal, which involved the Wuhan Institute. Fauci, who served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases (NIAID), has denied knowledge of the research. However, Paul argues that evidence shows NIH and NIAID were aware of the proposal.
The proposal, called the “DEFUSE Project,” involved several agencies, including the Department of Defense’s research agency, DARPA. Paul requested information from these agencies, questioning their involvement in the project.
Despite Fauci’s denials, Paul claims that NIH’s connection to the proposal suggests a potential link between their funding and COVID-19’s origins. He criticizes Fauci for dismissing the lab-leak theory and believes that disclosing this research earlier could have aided understanding of the virus’s origins.
The lab-leak theory gained traction when comedian Jon Stewart openly discussed it on a talk show, challenging the previous dismissal of such ideas. This theory suggests that the virus may have originated from a lab accident rather than natural causes.
NIH confirmed receipt of Paul’s letter but did not comment further. NIAID did not respond to requests for comment.