Nonetheless, about 33% of the biolabs identified by the ODNI are in war-torn Ukraine, making the release of dangerous pathogens a realistic possibility. The ODNI reported that the pathogens included “Anthrax, tularemia, tuberculosis, Swine Fever, (New Castles) Disease, MERS, SARS, Marburg, Ebola, Lassa, the Plague, Rickettsia and others.” In just four of the Ukrainian laboratories, U.S. funding exceeded $9 million.
Gabbard’s announcement raises disturbing questions, such as why the U.S. is funding such biolabs in direct contradiction to the President’s Executive Order? Why did the Biden administration lie about the presence of such biolabs in Ukraine?
The new information completely vindicates Gabbard, who raised questions about the biolabs in 2022 after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. At the time, she was accused by several political leaders of repeating Russian “lies.” For example, then Utah Senator Mitt Romney said, “Tulsi Gabbard is parroting false Russian propaganda. Her treasonous lies may well cost lives.”
As usual, Mitt Romney was completely wrong. In its Friday statement, the ODNI claimed, “The information surrounding the existence, history, locations, and funding of these US-funded biolabs has been intentionally covered up by powerful people falsely claiming that they do not exist and accusing anyone who says otherwise (of being) foreign assets and traitors to America.”
To replace Gabbard, President Trump has tapped an interim DNI, Bill Pulte, and a permanent DNI, Jay Clayton, whom he urged the U.S. Senate to confirm quickly.
Presumably, the new DNI will be more comfortable with the Trump administration’s foreign policies than Gabbard. According to media reports, Gabbard was not especially supportive of U.S. military action in Iran or Venezuela. Consequently, she was sidelined recently in favor of CIA Director John Ratcliffe, whom the President has relied on extensively for counsel on intelligence matters. Gabbard’s positions are not surprising, given her record of opposition to U.S. military involvement abroad.