Tulsi Gabbard Releases Declassified COVID Documents on Fauci’s Role
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released newly declassified documents she says show former top U.S. infectious disease official Anthony Fauci influenced intelligence assessments on COVID-19’s origins and later denied such contacts under oath before Congress.
The release by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) marks a major escalation in the Trump administration’s effort to reexamine the pandemic’s origins and the roles of government agencies, scientists, and intelligence officials.
According to Gabbard, the documents show Fauci, while leading the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), interacted with intelligence officials as debate intensified over whether the virus emerged naturally or from a Wuhan lab.
“The COVID-19 pandemic caused tremendous hardship and pain,” Gabbard said, adding that Americans deserve “transparency, truth, and accountability.” She also accused Fauci of manipulating intelligence, lying to Congress, and restricting a president’s access to critical information.
ODNI said it conducted a yearlong declassification review under President Donald Trump’s transparency directive and collected testimony from intelligence community whistleblowers who alleged retaliation for challenging official assessments.
The agency claimed Fauci played a significant role in discussions about COVID-19 origins, recommending experts to intelligence agencies and helping shape assessments later presented as scientific consensus. A July 2021 intelligence email described Fauci as “a SME with a wealth of knowledge” who likely knew the leading coronavirus experts.
The documents include intelligence discussions about scientists recommended by Fauci during the Biden administration’s 2021 review of COVID-19 origins. Fauci denied knowledge of such intelligence-agency discussions during 2024 congressional testimony.
Also included is an August 2021 communication referencing a whistleblower complaint alleging Fauci gave false congressional testimony about gain-of-function research at the National Institutes of Health.
The release also cites whistleblower claims that analysts supporting the lab-leak theory faced retaliation or marginalization. Gabbard said several complaints were referred to the Intelligence Community Inspector General.
U.S. intelligence agencies remain divided on whether COVID-19 originated through animal transmission or a laboratory-related incident.
