Duplicate payments by two federal agencies to Wuhan lab being investigated

A former FBI agent's investigation has brought to light that the Wuhan lab may have received tens of millions of dollars in duplicate payments by two federal agencies. According to the documentation analyzed by Diane Cutler, the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), reportedly funded research at the risk research center that the FBI and a number of other official investigations point to as being the source of the pandemic.

Cutler, an investigator with more than 20 years of experience in health care issues and white-collar fraud, discussed the results of her inquiries after reviewing more than 50,000 documents in remarks to CBS News. "What I've found so far is evidence that points to double billing and potential theft of government funds. It is concerning, especially since it involves dangerous pathogens and risky research," she said.

High-risk projects in Wuhan

The former FBI agent was hired by Republican Senator Ron Johnson. During her inquiries, Cutler found indications of possible duplicate payments while reviewing U.S. government grants to fund high-risk biohazard projects at the Chinese lab. Johnson passed on the report's findings to USAID, which opened a new investigation to clarify the payments.

A "9/11-style" commission for Wuhan

The senator also called for the creation of a non-partisan "9/11-style commission," to coordinate and conduct this complex investigation into the research procedures and processes that potentially caused this pandemic so we can improve our preparedness for the next public health crisis. Johnson recalled the 1.1 million Americans killed by covid and stressed that "all mankind deserves to know who and what is responsible for this horrific virus."

Senator Johnson calls for "new biosafety safeguards"

Johnson called for"implementing new biosafety safeguards" and noted that he has introduced a bill to establish a moratorium "on all viral gain-of-function research, like the research EcoHealth Alliance facilitated without oversight at the Wuhan Institute of Virology."

The FBI is being asked to join in the investigation.

In addition, he demanded that the FBI join the investigation into the possible theft of government funds. Johnson again demanded that intelligence agencies turn over to Congress all reports on the origins of covid for further study by lawmakers.