Explosive Covid lab leak docs unsealed as world could finally learn source of virus
A classified intelligence report released last month concluded that the COVID-19 virus was "most likely" released from a Chinese lab in Wuhan.
Lord Bethell on the early government response to the Covid pandemic
The world could soon know the source of the Covid pandemic as Joe Biden has signed a new law ordering all documents on its origins to be released within 90 days. The US President hopes to "get to the bottom" of the source of the virus and "share as much of that information as possible".
It will assess whether theories linking its origin to a lab in Wuhan hold weight and all US intelligence related to this will be declassified.
In a statement, Biden said "we need to get to the bottom of COVID-19's origins", noting that any released material should also "include potential links to the Wuhan Institute of Virology".
He added: "In implementing this legislation, my administration will declassify and share as much of that information as possible."
The decision passed unanimously through the House and Senate.
Now Biden has signed off on the new law, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines will be required to declassify the relevant documents within the next three months.
The US President said he wants to make as much information as possible available to the public but noted national security risks must also be assessed when it comes to what is released.
He said: "In implementing this legislation, my administration will declassify and share as much of that information as possible, consistent with my constitutional authority to protect against the disclosure of information that would harm national security."
Haines must now create a report from the declassified information and submit it to Congress for assessment.
READ MORE: Biden finally hosts Irish PM after two-year delay
The theory that coronavirus was intentionally leaked from a lab in Wuhan, China, has gained traction in recent weeks.
A report, published last month in the Wall Street Journal, stated that the US Energy Department considered a Chinese lab leak as the "most likely" source of the virus.
At the time, FBI Director Christopher Wray told Fox News that investigators had "for quite some time" assessed that "the origins of the pandemic are mostly likely a potential lab incident in Wuhan".
Wray said the Chinese government was "doing its best to try to thwart and obfuscate" efforts by the US and others to learn more about the pandemic's origins.
Don't miss...
News presenter faints on-air in terrifying live TV collapse [LATEST]
Russia backs Trump with call for US riots [COMMENT]
'I called my cousin a creep over the clothing they bought my baby' [INSIGHT]
"Here you are talking about a potential leak from a Chinese government-controlled lab," he explained.
Beijing denies these assessments.
Mao Ning, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said: "By rehashing the lab-leak theory, the US will not succeed in discrediting China, and instead, it will only hurt its own credibility.
"We urge the US to respect science and facts. Stop turning origin tracing into something about politics and intelligence, and stop disrupting social solidarity and origins cooperation."
Follow our social media accounts here on facebook.com/ExpressUSNews