Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) has pointed fingers at both the United States and China for their alleged roles in the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting they fostered an environment for the virus to cross species and spread globally. In an interview on "Sunday Morning Futures," Paul reiterated his belief that the virus originated in a Wuhan laboratory through research funded by U.S. officials, calling for a reduction in gain-of-function research.
He placed blame on both Chinese authorities and Anthony Fauci, along with others who supported this type of research. Paul also implicated Bill Gates, citing him as a significant funder of virus research, and questioning the practice of extracting viruses from remote locations and transporting them to densely populated areas. He highlighted the potential dangers of such practices, referencing the discovery of viruses in a cave south of Wuhan that were subsequently brought to the city.
Paul, a vocal critic of former NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, extended his criticism to Gates, suggesting that despite potentially good intentions, Gates' funding could be contributing to a significant threat to humanity. He expressed concern over the practice of manipulating viruses by combining them with others, creating viruses not found in nature.
Paul emphasized the substantial funding provided by Gates to the World Health Organization, implying a level of responsibility for the pandemic. He reiterated his accusations against Fauci, alleging an "elaborate cover-up" related to gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, purportedly funded by the National Institutes of Health. Paul claimed Fauci bypassed regulatory procedures to enable the research despite existing rules requiring greater scrutiny.
He recalled Fauci's 2012 statement about the importance of creating new viruses, even if it risked a pandemic, questioning the wisdom of that judgment given the subsequent loss of life, particularly in the United States. To address the issue, Paul advocated for an international agreement to limit gain-of-function research, warning of potentially catastrophic consequences from future pandemics originating from lab leaks.
He compared the threat of man-made viruses to nuclear arms control and the danger of nuclear war, highlighting the insidious nature of such threats and the potential for massive loss of life.
