The change comes as an intelligence official says there is no signals or human intelligence backing up the idea, while lawmakers press the administration to turn over any evidence.
The U.S. intelligence community is investigating whether or not the virus originated in a lab, but it"concurs with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not manmade or genetically modified," the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said in a statement last week.
Republican Sen. Tom Cotton, a China hawk from Arkansas who has also boosted the lab theory, told Fox News this week that the evidence is"circumstantial," but"points directly to the labs." Asked about what kind of evidence the U.S. government has, Pompeo told CNBC Thursday,"One man's direct is another man's circumstantial."
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks about the coronavirus disease during a media briefing at the State Department in Washington, D.C., May 6, 2020. Members of Congress have pressed the Trump administration to provide evidence showing the lab's responsibility. Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a letter Thursday he'd been requesting a briefing by the department for a month now on"what intelligence, if any, the U.S. government has regarding the origins of the virus."
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
U.S. will use 'every tool' to secure release if any Americans held in Venezuela: PompeoThe U.S. government will use “every tool” available to secure the return of Americans if they are being held in Venezuela, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo vowed on Wednesday, after Venezuelan officials said they had captured two U.S. “mercenaries” in a failed armed incursion.
Read more »
China accuses Pompeo of telling lies over its handling of coronavirusChina accused U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of telling one lie to cover up another in his continued attacks against Beijing over the coronavirus pandemic.
Read more »
Republicans want review of aid to WHO, Democrat may subpoena PompeoFive U.S. Senate Republicans introduced a bill on Wednesday seeking a review of U.S. participation in the World Health Organization and other international institutions, after President Donald Trump's administration suspended U.S. contributions to the U.N. health agency and accused it of mishandling the coronavirus pandemic.
Read more »
Pompeo Backtracks About Wuhan Lab: The Latest In The Controversial Coronavirus Origin TheoryThe theory that COVID-19 originated in a lab in Wuhan has emerged as a highly contentious claim since the outbreak began.
Read more »
Pompeo delays Hong Kong report to see if China acts to 'further undermine' autonomyThe U.S. State Department is delaying a report to Congress assessing whether Hong Kong enjoys sufficient autonomy from China to continue receiving special treatment from the United States, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday.
Read more »
China criticizes Pompeo over coronavirus Wuhan lab allegation, claims leaked GOP memo discredits Trump theory'The huge drama of blame-shifting in the U.S. has already been heavily spoiled, and continuing the drama is meaningless,' Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said.
Read more »