One of the theories that have floated around regarding the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic was that the virus came from a lab in Wuhan, where the first cases were reported. Over 200 House Republicans are now calling for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to launch an investigation in the said possibility.
House Republicans, including House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, wrote a letter to Pelosi demanding that the Democratic-led committees look into the possible origins of the coronavirus. In their letter, they cited that there is increasing evidence that the coronavirus came from a lab in Wuhan and the Chinese government is covering up the truth. Their letter follows US President Joe Biden’s announcement of requesting the US Intelligence community to double down on efforts in studying the virus’ origins.
“If that is the case, the CCP is responsible for the deaths of almost 600,000 Americans and millions more worldwide. These questions about the CCP’s liability are not a diversion, as you falsely claimed,” said the letter, that also criticized the House Democrats for refusing to look into the possible origins while accusing them of pursuing a “radical left agenda” and “inflation rates” due to the massive spending on the recent COVID-19 relief plan.
House Republicans reiterated their demands in the form of two COVID-19 related proposals: One for a 9/11-type commission to look into the origins of the pandemic and another bill that would allow Americans who have lost loved ones to the coronavirus to sue the Chinese government.
This letter also follows the failure to pass the proposal to create a commission that would investigate the events of January 6. A pro-Trump mob stormed into the Capitol in an attempt to derail the formal certification of Biden’s election victory. Five people were killed and over 100 Capitol Police officers were injured.
Since the insurrection, hundreds of rioters have been identified and arrested by the FBI and other law enforcement. The rioters that are awaiting trial are now presenting their defense that they were misled by former President Donald Trump’s baseless election fraud claims in the hopes of getting released or garner some sympathy.
Attorneys for at least three Capitol rioters that were arrested said to the Associated Press that they will blame election misinformation and the former president’s election falsehoods, saying that those who pushed the misinformation are just as responsible.