The federal government has been withholding a significant cache of documents related to hazardous gain-of-function biological research, according to Sen. Rand Paul, who argues that this lack of transparency is not in the public’s best interest.

“What we’ve discovered is there’s a treasure trove of information about dangerous research all collected, sitting in one spot,” Paul (R-Tenn.) told The NY Post during an exclusive interview.

He believes these documents could provide crucial insight into how COVID-19 originated in Wuhan, China, and whether U.S. funding played a role. Paul remains optimistic that the incoming Trump administration will facilitate access to these materials.

“We’re nearing the beginning of the real investigation because come January, with a friendly administration, we think we’re going to get all of this information,” he said.

Since 2012, the U.S. government has been compiling data on risky research practices, including gain-of-function research. This controversial method involves enhancing viruses to make them more transmissible or dangerous for the purpose of studying them.

Paul’s office learned about this through a whistleblower, who revealed that the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) has been privy to such reports for years.

These findings are reviewed every two years as part of the U.S. Government Policy for Oversight of Life Sciences Dual Use Research of Concern.

According to a document outlining the policy, its objective is to monitor “life sciences research that … could be directly misapplied to pose a significant threat with broad potential consequences to public health and safety … or national security.”

To Paul, this suggests that public health officials had long been aware of the dangers posed by gain-of-function research, well before the outbreak of COVID-19.

Many scientists have theorized that the virus may have emerged as a result of such research conducted at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

Concerns about the research escalated when it was revealed that U.S. funds had been allocated to the lab. A House committee investigation uncovered that the National Institutes of Health awarded EcoHealth Alliance a $4 million grant for studying bat coronaviruses at the Wuhan facility.

“Many people insist that EcoHealth Alliance conducted gain of function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. That is categorically untrue,” EcoHealth Alliance stated in response to the accusations.

“EHA and its sub-awardee, Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), were studying bat coronaviruses that were never shown to be capable of infecting humans.”

Whether this specific grant was reviewed under the oversight policy remains unclear, but Paul suspects it might have been. “Here’s the question: If they think it’s dangerous enough that they’re sending it up to the White House so they can oversee it, was the Wuhan research sent up?” he asked.

If included, these documents could potentially reveal the origins of COVID-19 and identify U.S. health officials who authorized funding for Wuhan-based research.

On Monday, Paul reached out to OSTP Director Arati Prabhakar, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and President Biden, requesting unredacted versions of “any classified reporting” tied to the oversight policy. He also urged them to preserve all relevant communications and records.

Paul, a physician, has spent years pressing multiple government agencies and the White House for information that could help trace the roots of COVID-19.

“It’s been the opposite of anybody cooperating with us,” he remarked. “We keep getting very, very little. There are huge documents that are 250 pages long, [but] everything is redacted.”

Paul believes the lack of transparency might stem from attempts to shield officials from accountability over risky research.

“We know that the research [at Wuhan] was reviewed,” he explained. “What I’ve always wanted from the beginning is, I want the discussion … Show us the discussion. That’s not classified, that’s not secret, it’s not like nuclear bombs or something.”

He also aims to determine whether former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci was involved in authorizing Wuhan research funding.

“It’s not just for culpability,” Paul said regarding his push for these documents. “I want to see what’s broken about the safety process of overseeing this, and this is an argument for why we need legislation to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

In July 2024, Paul proposed The Risky Research Review Act, which would create an independent Life Sciences Research Security Board within the executive branch to oversee high-risk studies and prevent future pandemics.

With the potential treasure trove of information identified, Paul is optimistic that the Trump administration will be more cooperative in addressing his inquiries and uncovering the truth.

“We’re very hopeful that we’re gonna get it all, and so I think we’re on the cusp of uncovering what happened with COVID,” Paul concluded.

{Matzav.com}