The U.S. government is facing scrutiny after former federal investigator Diane Cutler revealed evidence suggesting duplicate payments were made for projects at laboratories in Wuhan, China.
These payments, channeled through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), were used to support high-risk research in China before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This potential mismanagement of government funds highlights concerns regarding the proper oversight of dangerous pathogens and research.
Cutler, a seasoned investigator with over 20 years of experience in tackling white-collar crime and healthcare fraud, assessed over 50,000 documents during her comprehensive investigation.
She uncovered indications that the U.S. government may have made duplicate payments for various expenses, including medical supplies, equipment, travel, and salaries. Republican Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas, who enlisted Cutler’s services, has taken the findings to USAID, prompting a new investigation into the matter.
Senator Marshall expressed the gravity of this situation for American taxpayers, drawing a parallel with a plane crash investigation. He argued that understanding the root cause is essential to prevent further occurrences. “We go to any lengths to do that. And the hope is we don’t have another plane crash for the same reason.”
The ramifications of these findings stretch beyond financial misconduct. While intelligence agencies have not reached a consensus on the origin of the pandemic, the FBI and Energy Department have deemed an accidental lab leak as a plausible scenario.
The Wuhan Institute of Virology, which conducted viral research in the city where the SARS-CoV-2 virus first appeared, has come under close examination.
During a recent congressional hearing discussing the origins of COVID-19, the House unanimously voted for a bill requiring the declassification of intelligence concerning the origins. Robert Redfield, the former director of the CDC, testified that funding for high-risk virus research in Wuhan came from multiple sources, including the NIH, the State Department, USAID, and the Defense Department.
This startling revelation of potential duplicate payments and the mishandling of taxpayer dollars calls for swift attention. As the world continues to deal with the lasting effects of the pandemic, it is crucial for the American public to demand accountability from their government and ensure that proper oversight is maintained in future endeavors.