Chat message

Slack / Private Message Drop, p.1114 [SLACK_001328] · slack_pm:msg:11623

Date: 2022-05-27 12:29
Type: chat message · slack
recipient: Kristian G. Andersen, Robert F. Garry, Andrew Rambaut
speaker: Edward C. Holmes
Topics: Lab-leak / accidental release hypothesis FOIA, records and transparency Proximal Origin paper

Recipients on this medium are inferred from channel membership, not per-message addressing.

Dr. Holmes, Reaching out with U.S. Right to Know in Washington for comment about an email we obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request (see attached). It suggests that all theories about the origins of COVID were still on the table for you and Dr. Farrar as late as Feb. 8, 2020.As we understand it, that's four days after an early version of your highly influential paper "The Proximal origin ofCOVID-19" was shared with<https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/ZvyUCgZ0N1ilmEwRMuNqUhs?domain=dropbox.com> Anthony Fauci. Could you help me understand why it seems that a paper dismissing the possibility of a lab accident was draftedbefore you and your collaborators had reached a firm conclusion? And could you please share the summary of your discussions as of Feb. 8 that is referenced here (it's redacted inour docs)? All of the docs we received via this FOIA request are attached for your verification.We're hoping to get this story up in the next couple of hours (EST), but I know it's very early in Australia so please letme know ASAP if you plan on commenting and need more time to reply. And we are happy to add comment after the story is live. Thanks so much,--Emily Kopp

Links shared

other https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/ZvyUCgZ0N1ilmEwRMuNqUhs?domain=dropbox.com

Extracted statements

Rule-extracted, not adjudicated. The grade says what may be done with each one; read the document above before relying on any of them.

Statement	Grade	Attribution	Stance
Farrar as late as Feb. 8, 2020.As we understand it, that's four days after an early version of your highly influential paper "The Proximal origin ofCOVID-19" was shared with<https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/ZvyUCgZ0N1ilmEwRMuNqUhs?domain=dropbox.com> Anthony Fauci.	quoted / not their view	quoted_external sentence carries quotation marks	questions
Could you help me understand why it seems that a paper dismissing the possibility of a lab accident was draftedbefore you and your collaborators had reached a firm conclusion?	needs context	uncertain explicit hedge	questions

Statement

Grade

Attribution

Stance

Farrar as late as Feb. 8, 2020.As we understand it, that's four days after an early version of your highly influential paper "The Proximal origin ofCOVID-19" was shared with<https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/ZvyUCgZ0N1ilmEwRMuNqUhs?domain=dropbox.com> Anthony Fauci.

quoted / not their view

quoted_external sentence carries quotation marks

questions

Could you help me understand why it seems that a paper dismissing the possibility of a lab accident was draftedbefore you and your collaborators had reached a firm conclusion?

needs context

uncertain explicit hedge

questions

In context

A single line often inverts meaning once you see what it answers, so neighbouring messages are always shown.

2022-05-27 12:29 Edward C. Holmes

Dr. Holmes, Reaching out with U.S. Right to Know in Washington for comment about an email we obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request (see attached). It suggests that all theories about the origins of COVID were still on the table for you and Dr. Farrar as late as Feb. 8, 2020.As we understand it, that's four days after an early version of your highly influential paper "The Proximal origin ofCOVID-19" was shared with<https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/ZvyUCgZ0N1ilmEwRMuNqUhs?domain=dropbox.com> Anthony Fauci. Could you help me understand why it seems that a paper dismissing the possibility of a lab accident was draftedbefore you and your collaborators had reached a firm conclusion? And could you please share the summary of your discussions as of Feb. 8 that is referenced here (it's redacted inour docs)? All of the docs we received via this FOIA request are attached for your verification.We're hoping to get this story up in the next couple of hours (EST), but I know it's very early in Australia so please letme know ASAP if you plan on commenting and need more time to reply. And we are happy to add comment after the story is live. Thanks so much,--Emily Kopp
2022-05-27 12:30 Edward C. Holmes open

Did you get that one? She attacked a ton on FOIA docs which largely having nothing to do with us.
2022-05-27 12:31 Edward C. Holmes open

Straight to the bin.
2022-05-27 12:32 Edward C. Holmes open

shared file(s): 2021.05.12 DO NOT RELEASE 21-018_Part I.pdf
2022-05-27 12:33 Edward C. Holmes open

Obvious what their story will say.

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