A newly highlighted book by molecular biologist Sigrid Bratlie alleges that Dr. Anthony Fauci’s public dismissal of the lab-leak theory in early 2020 was part of a broader cover-up that extended well beyond his own statements. Bratlie, author of The Mystery of Wuhan, writing in The Free Press, details how Fauci privately received warnings from leading virologists about a possible lab leak while simultaneously telling the public that claims of a lab origin were conspiracy theories.
According to Bratlie, several prominent virologists privately told Fauci in late January 2020 that they suspected SARS-CoV-2 may have leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV). Days later, Fauci publicly stated that “we know that such viruses have a natural origin,” dismissing other claims as conspiracy theories. Bratlie points out that this occurred before any published study on COVID-19’s origins and before a full investigation of the research Fauci funded in Wuhan.
Wuhan Lab Safety Concerns Documented
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has long pressed Fauci on these issues during congressional testimony. Paul’s committee investigating COVID origins has highlighted multiple State Department diplomatic cables from 2018 warning of critical shortages of trained technicians and investigators needed to safely operate the WIV’s high-containment BSL-4 facility. The cables noted concerns about conducting experiments on bat coronaviruses under such conditions.
Reports and grant documents revealed that much of the coronavirus research at WIV was conducted in lower biosafety level labs (BSL-2 and BSL-3) rather than the BSL-4 facility. Biosafety experts, including Dr. James Le Duc, noted privately that lower biosafety levels carry higher risk for accidental release due to less stringent airflow, physical containment, and suit requirements.
Even Chinese scientists acknowledged systemic issues. Yuan Zhiming, director of the WIV’s BSL-4 lab, co-authored academic papers recognizing broader problems in domestic biosafety labs, including lack of operational technical support, insufficient specialized maintenance, and high costs leading to compromised safety routines.
HHS Action and the Furin Cleavage Site
The Department of Health and Human Services formally suspended the WIV’s eligibility for U.S. federal funding in 2023 and moved to debar the institute, citing failure to provide requested documentation on biosafety compliance after federal inquiries into NIH-grant-funded research.
Bratlie also points to the so-called “furin cleavage site” in SARS-CoV-2, which some virologists consider a “smoking gun” for lab manipulation. This molecular “key” enhances the virus’s ability to infect human cells, making it more dangerous than naturally occurring coronaviruses.
The scientists who signed the 2020 letter “The Proximal Origin of SARS-CoV-2,” which Fauci helped initiate and shape, later expressed second thoughts. Andrew Rambaut wrote that “it really isn’t beyond plausibility that someone went ahead and tried some of this stuff,” and Kristian Andersen noted that making such a virus in a lab was neither technically difficult nor scientifically illogical—contradicting their earlier public claims.
Fauci’s Denials and Broader Implications
Fauci has repeatedly denied under oath that he authorized gain-of-function research. Bratlie argues he bends the definition of “gain-of-function” to avoid legal jeopardy. David Morens, a top Fauci deputy, has admitted to thwarting journalistic inquiries by making certain emails invisible to Freedom of Information Act requests.
Bratlie contends Fauci was the frontman for a larger conspiracy involving HHS and possibly other agencies engaged in risky taxpayer-funded research. While gain-of-function research may be halted, she warns that scientists can circumvent definitions and continue similarly dangerous work.
“The research may be necessary,” she writes, “but conducting it in Third World labs is not.”
Source: pjmedia.com — https://pjmedia.com/rick-moran/2026/08/20/the-covid-coverup-goes-far-beyond-faucis-sins-n4956343
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