The Department of Justice has initiated a secret grand jury investigation into a U.S. nonprofit organization called EcoHealth Alliance. This group has been linked to the funding of the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) in China, where many suspect a lab leak may have caused the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report released by a House committee.
Reports from scientific experts and former officials indicate that grants from EcoHealth Alliance to the WIV might have financed research that manipulated viruses, potentially leading to a lab accident. However, efforts to obtain records related to this funding have consistently faced roadblocks from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
While the details surrounding the DOJ’s investigation remain largely confidential, members of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, which published the detailed report on the pandemic’s origins, have chosen not to comment, fearing it might obstruct the ongoing DOJ inquiry.
Internal emails and documents included in the report indicate that the grand jury has sought genetic sequences from EcoHealth’s virus research as well as communications between Dr. Peter Daszak, the organization’s president, and Dr. Shi Zhengli, a prominent scientist at the WIV known for her work on coronaviruses.
In one email, an attorney advised Daszak to avoid mentioning the federal investigation when requesting more time to comply with documentation requests from another congressional committee exploring the COVID response. Such tactics raise concerns about transparency and accountability, especially in light of the pandemic’s far-reaching impacts on society.
The grand jury has reportedly subpoenaed emails from EcoHealth, focusing on both professional and personal addresses of Dr. Zhengli. It appears that some requests made by Daszak for important viral sequences were never successfully delivered.
On a bipartisan basis, the House COVID panel concluded that Dr. Daszak should never again receive U.S. taxpayer funding, given his organization’s past misconducts. Representative Morgan Griffith, a member of the Energy and Commerce panel, criticized the NIH for its lack of oversight, stating that it failed to secure essential information that taxpayers funded.
The NIH, along with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), granted millions to EcoHealth, including a significant $4 million project aimed at understanding the risks posed by bat coronaviruses. More than $1.4 million of that funding found its way to the WIV.
According to evidence reviewed by the House subcommittee, EcoHealth’s activities likely breached NIH protocols and resulted in the suspension of its funding. Earlier investigations revealed the nonprofit’s consistent violations of grant agreements, leading to serious questions about the management and allocation of taxpayer money.
The findings from the committee not only highlight the specific failings of EcoHealth but also suggest broader issues with the government’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. The report criticized extended lockdowns and federal mandates, arguing they inflicted significant harm on both the economy and the mental health of American citizens.
Furthermore, the subcommittee emphasized that there was no solid evidence supporting the widespread effectiveness of mask mandates, and called out public health officials for their inconsistent messaging, which ultimately eroded public trust.
In conclusion, the pandemic has exposed serious leadership deficiencies and deepened skepticism among Americans. To prevent such a situation from recurring, future responses must be managed transparently and without conflicts of interest. As highlighted in the committee’s findings, accountability and integrity will be vital in restoring public confidence for any future crises.
