Overview
- James E. Erdman III, a current CIA operations officer subpoenaed to testify Wednesday, told the Senate Homeland Security panel that senior officials suppressed and altered findings on the virus’s origin.
- He said agency experts favored a lab accident but leaders softened their work after late edits and outside input, and he alleged Dr. Anthony Fauci steered analysts by pushing a list of like‑minded experts.
- Erdman accused the CIA of illegally monitoring the Director’s Initiatives Group that reviewed COVID‑origin work, saying investigators were surveilled and a contractor was fired after meeting with the team.
- The CIA denounced the public session as “dishonest political theater” and said it already assesses a research‑related origin as more likely than a natural spillover, with low confidence.
- Republicans vowed more subpoenas and declassification pushes as Democrats skipped the hearing, reflecting a deep split over whistleblower claims, Fauci’s role and oversight of U.S.-funded lab research.