President Donald Trump’s outgoing Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, used one of her final actions in office to release newly declassified documents highlighting Dr. Anthony Fauci’s involvement in discussions about the U.S. intelligence community’s review of Covid-19’s origins.
According to Fox News, the release comes as leadership at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence is set to change. Bill Pulte is expected to serve in the role on an interim basis while Trump’s nominee, former SEC Chairman Jay Clayton, remains stalled in the Senate confirmation process.
Gabbard’s document release focuses on communications between intelligence officials as they prepared a government assessment into the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic. Some of the material had previously been reported, while other records were newly declassified.
One newly released exchange shows intelligence officials considered asking Fauci to serve as an outside reviewer for the assessment but decided against it because they believed it would create the appearance of a conflict of interest.
Separate emails show officials discussing whether they should follow Fauci’s recommendations on experts to interview during the 90-day review ordered by the president.
“For those who don’t know me, I’m the and, as such, leading the 90-day POTUS COVID origin study,” one official wrote. “Dr Fauci recommended that the IC reach out to the below individuals.”
Another official questioned whether relying on recommendations from a “policymaker” was appropriate, given the sensitivity of the investigation and the public debate surrounding Covid-19’s origins.
A different intelligence official argued Fauci should instead be viewed as a scientific expert rather than a policymaker in that context.
“In this particular case, given Dr Fauci’s background we absolutely would like to follow-up on his outreach suggestions,” the official wrote. “He’s a SME with a wealth of knowledge about current and historical research.”
The release follows earlier claims from a CIA whistleblower alleging Fauci had undue influence over the intelligence community’s Covid-19 origins assessment. Conservatives have long argued Fauci and other public health officials minimized the lab-leak theory despite U.S. funding connections to coronavirus research in Wuhan, China.
In a statement accompanying the release, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence alleged the documents show Fauci influenced intelligence assessments and repeated accusations that he misled Congress about his involvement in discussions related to viral research.
The transition at ODNI has also drawn attention on Capitol Hill. Pulte has faced criticism from Republicans and Democrats over his lack of intelligence experience, while Clayton’s nomination remains delayed as President Trump continues pressing Congress to pass voter identification legislation before moving forward with the confirmation process.