The White House Wednesday confirmed it has received a classified version of the COVID-origin report, according to CBS News.
Asian American groups expressed fears of increased scapegoating of their community following the reports release and urged the Biden administration to do what it could to avoid inflaming the situation.
President Biden earlier had asked the investigators to double down on their efforts to determine if the virus came from a lab in China or came about naturally.
The Washington Post reports their investigation is inconclusive. The White House would only confirm it would release a declassified version in the coming days.
“The President was briefed on the classified report,” the official said to CBS News. “We look forward to having an unclassified summary of key judgments to share soon.”
Officials who spoke only if their names were not used told the Post the investigators have been unable to reach a consensus.
Many Republicans have argued the virus escaped from a lab in Wuhan, which China vigorously denies.
Instead it suggested an investigation should be conducted on whether the virus came from a U.S. lab at the U.S. Army’s Fort Detrick base in Maryland, reported Reuters.
The United States called that suggestion ridiculous.
“If there were sound, technically credible reasons for a U.S. investigation, we would of course support it. But there are none,” said an unidentified official.
Republicans urged the White House to immediately declassify the report.
“The American people deserve to know what our government does and does not know about the origins of COVID-19,” Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) said.
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