Rep. Morgan Griffith

They're worried about Ebola. They're worried about Mpox. They're worried about all these other things. And I think what happened, being generous, is they were worried about that. So they kind of looked the other way when they knew that they were doing research in a level two lab. It clearly should have been a level three lab.

They're worried about Ebola. They're worried about Mpox. They're worried about all these other things. And I think what happened, being generous, is they were worried about that. So they kind of looked the other way when they knew that they were doing research in a level two lab. It clearly should have been a level three lab.

And they kind of looked the other way thinking, well, we got to get this research done. So we'll give it to this third party group, EcoHealth Alliance, and they'll go to a foreign country. And we can march our hands of it. And that's what they tried to do.

And they kind of looked the other way thinking, well, we got to get this research done. So we'll give it to this third party group, EcoHealth Alliance, and they'll go to a foreign country. And we can march our hands of it. And that's what they tried to do.

And when they realized it might blow back on them, I think there was some feeling that if it was a lab leak even, which is what I believe happened, they were afraid it would come back on them. Well, I think it has. I think most rational people today would admit that it is the odds-on favorite. that it was a lab leak.

And when they realized it might blow back on them, I think there was some feeling that if it was a lab leak even, which is what I believe happened, they were afraid it would come back on them. Well, I think it has. I think most rational people today would admit that it is the odds-on favorite. that it was a lab leak.

What I was going to say is I believe that I could get a jury to find on circumstantial evidence that all we have today that there was evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, or at least two, eliminating all reasonable doubt that it came out of the lab. I don't think it was intentional. I think it was just sloppy work. Their filtration system was horrible.

What I was going to say is I believe that I could get a jury to find on circumstantial evidence that all we have today that there was evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, or at least two, eliminating all reasonable doubt that it came out of the lab. I don't think it was intentional. I think it was just sloppy work. Their filtration system was horrible.

Even with a level two lab, I'm not sure they really met level two, but the Chinese claim they did. But one of their own doctors was advocating in 2019 that they might want to get a better filtration system because basically all they had was your basic charcoal filters. They didn't have filters.

Even with a level two lab, I'm not sure they really met level two, but the Chinese claim they did. But one of their own doctors was advocating in 2019 that they might want to get a better filtration system because basically all they had was your basic charcoal filters. They didn't have filters.

In my opinion, they closed the barn door after the horses were out. And I think that's what happened. That's exactly right. But they were doing dangerous research. And we've seen signs they might be continuing to try to do some of that. And we've been trying to put a stop to that.

In my opinion, they closed the barn door after the horses were out. And I think that's what happened. That's exactly right. But they were doing dangerous research. And we've seen signs they might be continuing to try to do some of that. And we've been trying to put a stop to that.

And some of the legislation that we have, one of the bills that Dr. Paul and I have together, is a bill that would say you got to have an independent group, independent of NIH. They have an internal group that's supposed to be looking at risky research. Nope, nope.

And some of the legislation that we have, one of the bills that Dr. Paul and I have together, is a bill that would say you got to have an independent group, independent of NIH. They have an internal group that's supposed to be looking at risky research. Nope, nope.

You didn't do a good job on COVID, whether it came out of the lab or it was somehow natural, which there's no evidence that it was natural. But even if you wanted to buy that, you shouldn't be doing that risky research without an independent review process because it raises all kinds of questions about whether or not you made the right call.

You didn't do a good job on COVID, whether it came out of the lab or it was somehow natural, which there's no evidence that it was natural. But even if you wanted to buy that, you shouldn't be doing that risky research without an independent review process because it raises all kinds of questions about whether or not you made the right call.

And mistakes can happen, but we need to have an extra safety net to try to stop as many as we can and as many mistakes as we can at various labs. If the taxpayers are paying for it, we better have some security around it.

And mistakes can happen, but we need to have an extra safety net to try to stop as many as we can and as many mistakes as we can at various labs. If the taxpayers are paying for it, we better have some security around it.

Yeah, I think that's accurate. I think you can make an argument, and look, Congress is equally guilty on this. You can make an argument maybe for the first two or three months with shutting down some stuff. After the first two to three months, there's no argument for having our society shut down. I mean, my favorite one was, I'm a swimmer, I've been a swimmer my whole life.

Yeah, I think that's accurate. I think you can make an argument, and look, Congress is equally guilty on this. You can make an argument maybe for the first two or three months with shutting down some stuff. After the first two to three months, there's no argument for having our society shut down. I mean, my favorite one was, I'm a swimmer, I've been a swimmer my whole life.