Rand Paul: Strange How the Scientist Who Originally Warned About a COVID Lab Leak Helped Call it a 'Conspiracy Theory' Later

The senator has questions. #15

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In 2015, coronavirus scientist Ralph Baric, along with the leading coronavirus researcher at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Shi Zhengli, warned about the gain-of-function research each had pursued.

“Scientific review panels may deem similar studies…too risky to pursue,” they concluded.

According to a Vanity Fair story in May 2024, at the time “Baric testified that he had specifically warned Shi Zhengli that the WIV’s (Wuhan Institute of Virology) critical coronavirus research was being conducted in labs with insufficient biosafety protections.”

The Obama administration had paused such research in October 2014 precisely to avoid any threats to public health.

So there was acknowledgment, by both a Democratic administration and scientists involved in this research, that a significant risk was posed.

Then the pandemic happened. We all suff…