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BREAKING: Trump Administration has known through *unclassified* State Dept. sources since JAN 2018 that China's biotech labs may have created COVID-19 
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/04/14/state-department-cables-warned-safety-issues-wuhan-lab-studying-bat-coronaviruses/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/04/14/state-department-cables-warned-safety-issues-wuhan-lab-studying-bat-coronaviruses/
In other words, the Trump Admin has known - without even touching the intelligence community's classified sources and methods - about risk of major pandemic from Chinese labs.
The State Dept. was using its resources to communicate our concern to China - and report back to the President.
China tried to cover its tracks about this, but the tracks are, well, archived. #OPSECFail
China tried to cover its tracks about this, but the tracks are, well, archived. #OPSECFail
Diplomats warned that China could have been working on a de facto bioweapon of mass destruction - with insufficient safety and security.
America's Foreign Service (
) was on the frontlines warning about a national security threat and trying to mitigate it through diplomacy first.
) was on the frontlines warning about a national security threat and trying to mitigate it through diplomacy first.
State Dept. reported that what potentially became COVID-19 may have come from the same source as what created the deadly SARS outbreak: bats.
Given the affinity for angiotensin converting enzyme-2, like COVID-19, the State cables argue that keeping track of these coronaviruses would indeed be critical for security.
There's a fine line between defensive research and creating a bioweapon.
It wasn't clear on which side of the line the Wuhan laboratory was on with this coronavirus research.
It wasn't clear on which side of the line the Wuhan laboratory was on with this coronavirus research.
The Chinese government is *very* reticent to answer questions about how COVID-19 came about - including basic questions.
(Note: the actual CCP took the time to accuse the U.S. DOD of cooking up COVID-19...a *very* bad look, diplomatically.)
(Note: the actual CCP took the time to accuse the U.S. DOD of cooking up COVID-19...a *very* bad look, diplomatically.)
Not shockingly, Trump did nothing to help or investigate the Wuhan situation further. But now it's looking back at warnings from *more than two years ago.*
The most likely scenario for COVID-19's pandemic involves China's mismanaged bioresearch labs.
The story about the seafood market? It apparently didn't even *sell* the bats that would have transmitted COVID-19.
The story about the seafood market? It apparently didn't even *sell* the bats that would have transmitted COVID-19.
Perhaps most tellingly, Beijing is freaking out and actively trying to keep SCIENTISTS TRYING TO SAVE LIVES from getting a hold of critical information about the origins of COVID-19. 
Bottom line: if our State Dept. had the story in unclassified form as far back as JANUARY 2018 then Trump has had access the entire time - certainly since late 2019.
And did nothing. </>
(And kudos to @JoshRogin for such solid, timely #GoodJournalism)
And did nothing. </>
(And kudos to @JoshRogin for such solid, timely #GoodJournalism)
