A House subcommittee has subpoenaed communications from Kristian Andersen, a key scientist involved in a 2020 paper that downplayed the COVID-19 lab leak theory. The subpoena, issued by the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, seeks Slack messages related to the drafting, publication, and reception of the "Proximal Origin of SARS-CoV-2" article published in Nature Medicine. This action follows the subcommittee's discovery of emails suggesting Dr. Anthony Fauci's involvement in the article's creation to counter the lab leak hypothesis.

Representative Brad Wenstrup, Chairman of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis. (Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Andersen, who participated in a transcribed interview with the committee, confirmed that the authors primarily used Slack for communication. However, he stated that not all contributors agreed to release these messages, necessitating the subpoena. The subpoena also requests any communications referencing Dr. Fauci, former NIH Director Francis Collins, and other top health officials, along with Peter Daszak of EcoHealth Alliance. Furthermore, it demands documents related to the origins of COVID-19, gain-of-function research, the Wuhan Institute of Virology, and other relevant entities.

Peter Daszak (R) and other members of the World Health Organization team investigating the origins of COVID-19 at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. (Photo by Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Brad Wenstrup emphasized the importance of uncovering the truth behind the potential suppression of the lab leak theory, stating that they are "following the breadcrumbs of a COVID-19 cover-up straight to the source." He highlighted Andersen's significant role and stressed the need to understand the motivations and individuals involved to prevent similar suppression of scientific discussion in future pandemics. The deadline for Andersen to produce the requested documents is June 30.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, former Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)