The newly released document provides limited additional information beyond what was already made public in the unclassified report. However, certain sections of the annex contain more detail about activities at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) and its collaboration with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). For instance, the annex acknowledges that WIV researchers conducted coronavirus research in collaboration with PLA scientists, though it emphasizes that the coronaviruses studied were not direct ancestors of SARS-CoV-2.

One notable point of interest in the annex, which mirrors the public report, is the mention of WIV researchers falling ill in the fall of 2019. The annex states that some researchers displayed symptoms that were consistent with, but not diagnostic of, COVID-19. However, there are no indications that these individuals were hospitalized due to the symptoms, and some may have been ill with unrelated conditions. This detail is echoed in the unclassified report, though the annex provides slightly more specificity regarding the health of these researchers.

Most of the newly released material remains heavily redacted. The declassification letter explains that much of the report continues to be classified under sections protecting intelligence activities, foreign relations, and scientific or technological information relevant to national security. These redactions are supported by 50 U.S.C. § 3024(i) of the National Security Act, which is invoked to protect intelligence sources and methods.

The unclassified version of the report, released in June 2023, addressed potential links between the WIV and the origins of COVID-19. It highlighted two competing hypotheses for the pandemic’s origin: natural exposure to an infected animal or a laboratory-related incident. While most U.S. intelligence agencies assess that the virus was likely transmitted to humans through natural exposure, a few agencies, including the Department of Energy and the FBI, favor the hypothesis of a laboratory-related origin. The report also pointed out that no evidence suggests the virus was genetically engineered or deliberately released.

The declassified annex, while providing some additional context, largely aligns with these conclusions. The exemptions and redactions in the document demonstrate the sensitive nature of the intelligence surrounding this issue, particularly concerning the involvement of the PLA and the specific activities undertaken at the WIV.

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ODNI Releases Partially Declassified Annex on Wuhan Lab and COVID-19 Origins [4 Pages, 1.34MB]

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The original request sought emails which contain the words  “FOIA” and “Freedom of Information”.

The controversy revolves around allegations that Dr. Morens used his personal email account to evade FOIA requests and potentially deleted critical federal records during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reports from the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic suggest that Dr. Morens advised his colleagues to use personal emails and delete messages to protect themselves and Dr. Anthony Fauci from public scrutiny. These actions have raised serious concerns about transparency and accountability within the NIH.

The emails show Dr. Morens expressing concern over the volume of emails that could be scrutinized under FOIA, indicating the potential for thousands of documents to be reviewed. His discussions include suggestions to streamline the process, such as forwarding emails to a central source or hiring additional help to manage the overwhelming task of compliance. This illustrates the challenges faced by NIH officials in balancing transparency with the demands of the pandemic.

In addition to these logistical concerns, the emails also highlight Dr. Morens’ apparent relief when certain FOIA requests were closed, suggesting a desire to avoid further scrutiny.

The documents reveal his strategic approach to handling information requests, which could be seen as an attempt to shield himself and his colleagues from external examination. W

For those interested in examining the documents in detail, the full release is provided below.

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NIH FOIA Case 61804 [335 Pages, 52MB]

The post New Documents Highlight NIH Adviser’s Controversial Handling of Emails and FOIA Requests first appeared on The Black Vault.

The original FOIA request specifically sought “all reports, papers, memos, etc. from the Armed Forces Medical Intelligence Center during 2019, 2020 or 2021 evaluating the origin of the Covid-19 novel SARS-2 Coronavirus and/or whether the Covid-19 novel SARS-2 Coronavirus was created in a laboratory.” The DIA’s response: “A search of DIA’s systems of records located one document (32 pages) responsive to your request.”

But the catch? Hefty redactions. Out of the 32 pages found responsive, 18 pages were “withheld in part” while a staggering 14 pages were “withheld in full.” The few visible headers include hints at what was being withheld like “China: Emergence of a Novel Coronavirus in Wuhan” and “Analysis of Alternatives: 2019-nCoV Outbreak Caused by Leak at WIV.” Yet, substantial portions of content, entire paragraphs, and even entire pages remain obscured from view.

In the DIA’s defense, they cite a litany of FOIA exemptions. Exemption 1, aligned with the criteria of Executive Order 13526, pertains to “information properly classified,” while Exemption 3 encompasses information “specifically exempted by a statute establishing particular criteria for withholding.” The statutes invoked, 10 U.S.C. § 424 and 50 U.S.C. § 3024(i), serve to protect the identity of DIA employees, the agency’s organizational structure, its functions, and “intelligence sources and methods.”

The looming question, then, is why? Why the necessity to shroud in secrecy information about a global pandemic’s origin – a matter of public health, concern, and knowledge?

While the DIA’s justifications, rooted in the protection of intelligence practices and personnel, are notable, the broader implications are evident. With global conversations on transparency, the nexus of defense intelligence and pandemic research remains as clouded as ever.

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DIA Releases Heavily Redacted Documents on COVID-19 Origin: Raises More Questions than Answers [20 Pages, 1.5MB]

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This report was drafted by the National Intelligence Officer for Weapons of Mass
Destruction and Proliferation and coordinated with the IC.

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Potential Links Between the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the Origin of the COVID-19 Pandemic, June 2023 [10 Pages, 1MB]

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The post Potential Links Between the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the Origin of the COVID-19 Pandemic, June 2023 first appeared on The Black Vault.