Carrie Wolinetz, former Chief of Staff at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), claimed Thursday that the so-called “lab leak theory” was not censored during the Covid-19 pandemic.
During the Senate Homeland Security hearing, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., questioned Wolinetz about her involvement in censoring online discussions about the theory, which proposed the virus escaped from a Chinese lab. Howley asked whether she regrets not opposing censorship efforts from her boss, former NIH Director Francis Collins, or from Anthony Fauci.
“Do you regret your role in helping censor millions of Americans who were kicked off social media, who were disciplined at work for saying ‘maybe a lab was involved?’” Hawley asked.
“I do not believe I ever had the role that you are describing,” Wolinetz said.
Hawley asked directly, “Do you regret not opposing the censorship?”
“I don’t believe censorship took place, sir,” Wolinetz responded.
Due to Wolinetz’s denial of censorship efforts, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who introduced legislation to create a board overseeing federal funding for high-risk life sciences research and ensuring agency accountability, stated that Wolinetz would not be considered for a position in the proposed independent entity within the Executive Branch.
This top “scientist” who was Chief of Staff at NIH during COVID just told me she doesn’t think any censorship took place under Fauci’s reign. None.
What world is she living in?? pic.twitter.com/EUjjZaXvPd
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) July 11, 2024
The FBI and Energy Department have stated there’s strong evidence supporting the plausibility of the lab leak theory.
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