WASHINGTON – Sen. Josh Hawley on Tuesday criticized the U.S. government for withholding information on the origins of COVID-19.
“I think one of the worst things that happened in the COVID era is that our own government deliberately withheld information from us, from the American people,” the Missouri Republican said during a Senate hearing examining the available evidence on the origin of the pandemic.
kAms6DA:E6 r@?8C6DD A2DD:?8 =68:D=2E:@? =2DE J62C[ DA@?D@C65 3J w2H=6J[ C6BF:C:?8 &]$] :?E6==:86?46 286?4:6D E@ 564=2DD:7J H92E E96J <?@H 23@FE 9@H E96 A2?56>:4 3682?[ :E 92D?’E 92AA6?65[ w2H=6J D2:5]k^Am
kAm“%96J 2C6 3=2E2?E=J 5:DC682C5:?8 — 3=2E2?E=J 5:DC682C5:?8 — E96 =2H E9:D 3@5J A2DD65[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmw:D DE2E6>6?ED 42>6 5FC:?8 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]9D824]D6?2E6]8@G^962C:?8D^@C:8:?D\@7\4@G:5\`h\2?\6I2>:?2E:@?\@7\2G2:=23=6\6G:56?46Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm962C:?8k^2m :? E96 $6?2E6 r@>>:EE66 @? w@>6=2?5 $64FC:EJ 2?5 v@G6C?>6?E2= p772:CD[ H96C6 7@FC D4:6?E:DED E6DE:7:65 23@FE H92E E96J D66 2D E96 6G:56?46 DFAA@CE:?8 E96 >2:? E96@C:6D @7 9@H E96 $p#$\r@'\a G:CFD 3682? E@ :?764E A6@A=6] %9@D6 E96@C:6D 2C6 E92E :E 6:E96C 6>6C865 :? ?2EFC6[ 2D >@DE A2?56>:4D 5@[ @C E92E :E @C:8:?2E65 7C@> 2? 244:56?E :?G@=G:?8 2 =23@C2E@CJ :? (F92?[ r9:?2]k^Am
kAm':C@=@8:DE #@36CE v2CCJ @7 %F=2?6 &?:G6CD:EJ :? }6H ~C=62?D D2:5 96 36=:6G6D E96 G:CFD @C:8:?2E65 :? ?2EFC6[ =:<6=J 2E 2 H:=5=:76 >2C<6E :? (F92?] w6 D2:5 2G2:=23=6 6G:56?46 D9@HD E96 G:CFD =:<6=J A2DD65 7C@> 2? :?764E65 32E E@ 2? :?E6C>65:2CJ 2?:>2= 367@C6 :?764E:?8 9F>2?D[ 2?5 :E :D :>A=2FD:3=6 E92E E96 G:CFD @C:8:?2E65 :? 2 =23] k^Am
kAmq:@D64FC:EJ 6IA6CE vC68@CJ z@3=6?EK @7 v6@C86 |2D@? &?:G6CD:EJ :? ':C8:?:2 D2:5 2G2:=23=6 6G:56?46 A@:?ED >@DE DEC@?8=J E@ 2 ?2EFC2= DA:==@G6C 6G6?E 2D E96 @C:8:? @7 E96 A2?56>:4[ 3FE 2 C6D62C49 244:56?E 42??@E 36 CF=65 @FE] w6 DF886DE65 7@4FD:?8 @? 7:?5:?8 E96 @C:8:? @7 E96 G:CFD >2J 5:DEC24E 7C@> AC6G6?E:?8 7FEFC6 A2?56>:4D[ 2?5 E92E AC642FE:@?D D9@F=5 36 E2<6? E@ C65F46 E96 C:D<D @7 3@E9 ?2EFC2= DA:==@G6C 2?5 =23@C2E@CJ 244:56?ED]k^Am
kAm|@=64F=2C 3:@=@8:DE #:492C5 t3C:89E 7C@> #FE86CD &?:G6CD:EJ :? }6H y6CD6J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]9D824]D6?2E6]8@G^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^%6DE:>@?J\t3C:89E\a_ac\_e\`g]A57Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmD2:5k^2m 2 “=2C86 AC6A@?56C2?46 @7 6G:56?46” DFAA@CED E96 G:CFD 6>6C865 E9C@F89 2 “C6D62C49\C6=2E65 :?4:56?E]” $E6G6? "F2J[ 49:67 6I64FE:G6 @77:46C 2E pE@DD2 %96C2A6FE:4D[ D2:5 96 36=:6G6D “$p#$\r@'\a :D ?@E 2 ?2EFC2= K@@?@D:D 3FE :?DE625 :D =23@C2E@CJ\56C:G65]”k^Am
kAm(9:=6 6249 @7 E96 D4:6?E:DED 4:E65 6G:56?46 E@ DFAA@CE E96:C A@D:E:@?[ E96 962C:?8 5:5 ?@E C6DF=E :? 2?J 567:?:E:G6 4@?4=FD:@?]k^Am
kAm%96 4@>>:EE66’D 492:C>2?[ $6?] v2CJ !6E6CD[ s\|:49][ D2:5 E96 962C:?8 H2D :?E6?565 E@ AC@G:56 D@>6 EC2?DA2C6?4J E@ p>6C:42?D H9@ 2C6 4@?E:?F:?8 E@ 92G6 E@ ?2G:82E6 E96:C 6IA@DFC6 E@ E96 G:CFD]k^Am
kAm“(9:=6 E96 BF6DE:@? @7 E96 @C:8:? @7 E96 r~'xs\`h A2?56>:4 C6>2:?D F?C6D@=G65[ x E9:?< :E :D 4=62C E92E E96C6 2C6 E9:?8D E92E H6 42? 2?5 >FDE AFCDF6 E@ C65F46 3:@=@8:42= C:D< 96C6 2E 9@>6 2?5 23C@25[” !6E6CD D2:5]k^Am
kAm%9C@F89@FE %F6D52J’D 962C:?8[ D6?2E@CD 6IAC6DD65 7CFDEC2E:@? E92E 7@FC J62CD :?E@ E96 A2?56>:4[ D@ =:EE=6 :D <?@H? 23@FE 9@H :E 3682?] w2H=6J A@FC65 @FE 9:D 4@?46C?D 23@FE H92E 96 42==65 2 “AC@A282?52 677@CE” E@ DE:7=6 5:776C:?8 E96@C:6D @? r~'xs\`h’D @C:8:? — 9@H 2?J 5:D4FDD:@? @7 2 A@DD:3=6 =23 @C:8:? H2D 3C2?565 2D 2 4@?DA:C24J E96@CJ 62C=J :? E96 A2?56>:4]k^Am
kAmp A2CE:4F=2C 7=2D9A@:?E 7@C #6AF3=:42?D :D 2? :?7=F6?E:2= D4:6?E:7:4 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?2EFC6]4@>^2CE:4=6D^Dc`dh`\_a_\_ga_\hQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm2CE:4=6 4@\2FE9@C65 3J v2CCJk^2m E92E H2D AF3=:D965 :? |2C49 a_a_[ ?62C E96 DE2CE @7 E96 A2?56>:4] %96 2CE:4=6[ H9:49 H2D 4:E65 3J ;@FC?2=:DED 2?5 24256>:4D[ DE2E65 E92E 96 2?5 9:D AC@>:?6?E D4:6?E:7:4 4@\2FE9@CD “5@ ?@E 36=:6G6 E92E 2?J EJA6 @7 =23@C2E@CJ\32D65 D46?2C:@ :D A=2FD:3=6]”k^Am
kAmw2H=6J 4C:E:4:K65 v2CCJ’D C@=6 :? E96 A2A6C[ D2J:?8 96 “5:D8C2467F==J A2CE:4:A2E65 :? D92>67F= AC@A282?52]”k^Am
kAmv2CCJ D2:5 E92E 2E E96 E:>6 @7 HC:E:?8 E96 2CE:4=6[ 96 2?5 9:D 4@\2FE9@CD 5:5 ?@E CF=6 @FE 2 =23 @C:8:? @C 32E\E@\9F>2? DA:==@G6C[ 3FE E92E E96C6 H2D DF77:4:6?E 52E2 E@ 4@?4=F56 E92E 2 =23 @C:8:? H2D ?@E =:<6=J] w6 D2:5 96 H:== 4@?E:?F6 E@ 6G2=F2E6 E96 6G:56?46 2?5 C62DD6DD E96 G2=:5:EJ @7 9:D 9JA@E96D6D]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 366? @?6 @7 E96 >@DE D4CFE:?:K65 A2A6CD :? 9:DE@CJ[” v2CCJ D2:5] “xE’D 96=5 FA G6CJ H6==] xE H2D?’E 2? 2EE6>AE E@ 5:DE@CE E9:?8D 2?5 E@ >:D=625 E96 p>6C:42? AF3=:4] xE H2D ;FDE D:>A=J 2 A2A6C]”k^Am
kAmu@C J62CD[ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]C6FE6CD]4@>^H@C=5^49:?2^49:?2\H:==\?@E\7@==@H\H9@D\DF886DE65\A=2?\a?5\A92D6\4@G:5\`h\@C:8:?D\DEF5J\a_a`\_f\aa^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmr9:?6D6 8@G6C?>6?E 92D C67FD65 E@ 4@@A6C2E6k^2m H:E9 :?E6C?2E:@?2= :?G6DE:82E:@?D 2?5 D92C6 52E2 E92E >:89E 96=A D@=G6 9@H E96 A2?56>:4 3682?]k^Am
kAmw2H=6J G@:465 9:D 5:D4@?E6?E 23@FE 9@H >F49 :?7@C>2E:@? 23@FE E96 @C:8:?D @7 r~'xs\`h C6>2:?D F?2G2:=23=6 7C@> &]$] 8@G6C?>6?E 286?4:6Di “xE :D HC@?8 E@ 46?D@C 2?5 =:6 E@ E96 p>6C:42? AF3=:4] xE :D HC@?8 E@ H:E99@=5 4C:E:42= :?7@C>2E:@? 7C@> E96>]”k^Am
kAm~?6 A@:?E E92E v2CCJ 2?5 w2H=6J 28C665 @?i 2 9:896C =6G6= @7 EC2?DA2C6?4J :D ?66565 7C@> E96 &]$] :?E6==:86?46 4@>>F?:EJ]k^Am
kAm“x 5@ E9:?< E92E H6 D9@F=5 =62C? >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@? 23@FE E96 :?E6==:86?46 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 H92E E96J 7@F?5[” v2CCJ D2:5] “x 28C66 H:E9 J@F E92E E96J D9@F=5 36 >@C6 @A6? 2?5 E6== H96C6 E9@D6 4@?4=FD:@?D 42>6 7C@>]”k^Am
kAm%9:D :D 2E =62DE E96 D64@?5 E:>6 :? E9C66 >@?E9D E92E w2H=6J 92D 4@>A=2:?65 23@FE 8@G6C?>6?E EC2?DA2C6?4J C682C5:?8 r~'xs\`h @C:8:?D] x? |2C49[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]J@FEF36]4@>^H2E49nGlIv<8|IaJ!?cQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm5FC:?8 2 962C:?8k^2m 7@4FD65 @? C67@C>:?8 7656C2= C64@C5D >2?286>6?E[ w2H=6J 4C:E:4:K65 E96 q:56? 25>:?:DEC2E:@? 7@C ?@E C6=62D:?8 C64@C5D @? E96 A2?56>:4’D @C:8:?D]k^Am
kAm~G6C 2 J62C 28@[ :? |2C49 a_ab[ w2H=6J’D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4@?8C6DD]8@G^3:==^``gE9\4@?8C6DD^D6?2E6\3:==^e`h^E6IEQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmr~'xs ~C:8:?D p4E @7 a_abk^2m H2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^3:56?\4@G:5\:?E6==:86?46\49:?2\HF92?\:?DE:EFE6\4ha7f363732e743c3d532cb`h_cg7736Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmD:8?65 :?E@ =2Hk^2m 3J !C6D:56?E y@6 q:56? 27E6C :E A2DD65 E96 $6?2E6 2?5 w@FD6 H:E9@FE 5:DD6?E]k^Am
kAm%96 24E 42==65 7@C s:C64E@C @7 }2E:@?2= x?E6==:86?46 pGC:= w2:?6D E@ 564=2DD:7J 2== :?7@C>2E:@? @? A@E6?E:2= =:?<D 36EH66? E96 (F92? x?DE:EFE6 @7 ':C@=@8J 2?5 E96 @C:8:? @7 r~'xs\`h[ H:E9:? h_ 52JD 27E6C 6?24E>6?E]k^Am
kAmx? yF?6 a_ab[ w2H=6J 2?5 $6?] |:<6 qC2F?[ #\x?5][ D6?E 2 =6EE6C E@ w2:?6D[ 564=2C:?8 E92E D96 2?5 E96 q:56? p5>:?:DEC2E:@? 72:=65 E@ 4@>A=J H:E9 E96 24E 27E6C C6=62D:?8 2? :?4@>A=6E6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]5?:]8@G^7:=6D^~s}x^5@4F>6?ED^2DD6DD>6?ED^#6A@CE\@?\!@E6?E:2=\{:?<D\q6EH66?\E96\(F92?\x?DE:EFE6\@7\':C@=@8J\2?5\E96\~C:8:?D\@7\r~'xs\`h\a_ab_eab]A57Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmDF>>2CJ C6A@CEk^2m 27E6C E96 DE2EFE@CJ 5625=:?6 925 A2DD65] w2H=6J 92D 42==65 E96 `_\A286 C6A@CE 2 “;@<6” E92E H2D “7=28C2?E=J :? G:@=2E:@? @7 E96 =2H]”k^Am
kAm!6E6CD E92?<65 E96 D4:6?E:DED H9@ E6DE:7:65 7@C D92C:?8 E96:C 6IA6CE:D6 2?5 D@>6 C64@>>6?52E:@?D E92E >2J 8F:56 E96 4@>>:EE66’D 7FEFC6 A@=:4J 5:D4FDD:@?D]k^Am
kAm“x 9@A6 E9:D 4@>>:EE66’D H@C< H:== 2=D@ C6DF=E :? C6DE@C:?8 2?5 >2:?E2:?:?8 E96 ECFDE :? AF3=:4 962=E9 286?4:6D 2?5 E96 D4:6?E:7:4 AC@46DD[ 2D H6 H:== ?665 E@ >2<6 DFC6 H6’C6 5@:?8 E92E E@ AC6G6?E 7FEFC6 A2?56>:4D :? E9:D 4@F?ECJ[” !6E6CD D2:5]k^Am
