“Scientists” who denounced the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) lab leak as a conspiracy theory or as xenophobic admitted that such a possibility was very likely, according to messages obtained the DailyMail.com. 

The Danish evolutionary biologist, Dr. Kristian Andersen, published a research paper in March 2020, saying the theory that the virus developed in a Wuhan laboratory is racist and a conspiracy.

However, Slack messages sent by Dr. Andersen showed a lack of integrity and consistency on his part. 

Before the publication of the research paper, Dr. Andersen told colleagues in a private Slack channel that it was highly likely the virus derived from a Chinese viral laboratory.

Communications demonstrate the group originally supported the natural origin theory, suggesting the virus originated from an animal and was transmitted to humans in a natural setting.

However, colleagues and Dr. Anderson himself deliberated extensively about the repercussions of blaming the virus on the Chinese would cause a scandal. They feared political backlash and jeopardizing future funding for viral manipulation research. 

The Slack channel also shows Andersen was aware of his colleague’s endeavors to suppress the origin of the coronavirus pandemic, later claiming to change their minds before they spoke aloud about the matter. 

Dr. Andersen and his co-author, Dr. Robert Garry, were called to testify before Congress, only for House Republicans to grill them on the recent revelations. This was primarily about their efforts to silence dissenting voices.  

Interestingly, other messages reveal even Dr. Andersen initially entertained the possibility of human manipulation, based on the virus’s genomic characteristics.

However, just four days later, on February 4, he shifted his stance on the virus’ origins, as indicated by an email he sent to another group of scientists.