---
type: Conversation
title: Private channel session 1169
description: "slack conversation, 22 messages, 2021-03-29."
tags:
  - conversation
  - slack
medium: slack
message_count: 22
started_at: "2021-03-29T10:34:23"
ended_at: "2021-03-29T11:34:05"
duration_seconds: 3582
sources:
  - { id: slack_pm, resource: /sources/slack-pm.md, title: Slack / Private Message Drop, author: "process:senate-hsgac-release" }
generated: { by: randpaul-corpus-pipeline/1.0, at: "2026-08-01T12:42:27Z" }
status: stable
---

A slack conversation of 22 messages spanning 0h 59m.

# Metadata

- **Started:** 2021-03-29T10:34:23
- **Ended:** 2021-03-29T11:34:05
- **Duration:** 0h 59m
- **Participants:** 4
- **Source:** [slack_pm](/sources/slack-pm.md)
- **Pages:** 649-652

# Participants

* [Andrew Rambaut](/people/andrew-rambaut.md)
* [Edward C. Holmes](/people/edward-c-holmes.md)
* [Kristian G. Andersen](/people/kristian-g-andersen.md)
* [Robert F. Garry](/people/robert-f-garry.md)

# Transcript

**[2021-03-29T10:34:23] Kristian G. Andersen:** Another Franken variant - from our Jordanian collaborator... [shared file(s): jordan_variant.png, EPI_ISL_1336652.fasta, jordan_variant_snps.csv]

**[2021-03-29T10:58:59] Robert F. Garry:** Appendix page 194

**[2021-03-29T10:59:23] Robert F. Garry:** shared file(s): image.png

**[2021-03-29T11:05:54] Andrew Rambaut:** @Kristian Andersen A Jordanian group got in touch about that one. May be in Egypt too.

**[2021-03-29T11:09:52] Robert F. Garry:** The raccoon dogs are in the report.

**[2021-03-29T11:21:46] Robert F. Garry:** No discussion I saw other than this @Eddie Holmes quote.

**[2021-03-29T11:34:05] Kristian G. Andersen:** @Kristian Andersen Okay, great. It might be worth coordinating about this since our Jordanian collaborator have been providing all the samples for the >95% dataset on GISAID that we sequenced here at Scripps. Edyth is currently taking the lead on analyzing that dataset, which isn't currently focused on variants - but might be worth SLACK_000864syncing up if there could be a larger study.

**[2021-03-29T11:34:05] Edward C. Holmes:** Can you send the Appendix Bob?

**[2021-03-29T11:34:05] Edward C. Holmes:** Seems that China pushed back on the inclusion of the raccoon dog stuff...plus I think Daszak wants to include it inhis own Lancet report and get more of the glory!

**[2021-03-29T11:34:05] Robert F. Garry:** Only if you deny where you got it :alien: [shared file(s): Annexes_20210328.pdf]

**[2021-03-29T11:34:05] Robert F. Garry:** Annexes.

**[2021-03-29T11:34:05] Edward C. Holmes:** Thanks! I will indeed.

**[2021-03-29T11:34:05] Robert F. Garry:** Dear ColleaguesYou are among thirty colleagues with an interest in the origin of SARS-CoV-2 who is receiving this email. Attached please find an Open Letter to the WHO with respect to the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the COVID pandemic. The purpose of the Open Letter is to request that the WHO acknowledge five facts that scientists agree on and which support the conclusion that an accidental laboratory-acquired infection was responsible for the COVID pandemic. The five undisputed facts are: COVID-19 wasn't smoldering in the community before the epidemic broke out, as was observed with previous coronavirus epidemics.Despite an intense search, neither the COVID virus, nor any close…

**[2021-03-29T11:34:05] Robert F. Garry:** Dr. Quay, I dispute each of your "facts."-

**[2021-03-29T11:34:05] Kristian G. Andersen:** Yeah, I got that too - complete nonsense from start to finish.

**[2021-03-29T11:34:05] Edward C. Holmes:** First impression on the report is that they have pulled their punches and that this is going to go on for years which ishugely depressing.

**[2021-03-29T11:34:05] Robert F. Garry:** I agree with this read as well Eddie. They could have gone a lot further with the data they had. So much work put-in,some decent analyses and some useful stuff, but no real "punch lines."I can see where the fights took place - they did not want to admit that there were raccoon dogs or other such animals in the market becase this too would put the "blame" on China and their eating habits. Much better I guess in their judgement to leave open the possibilitySC2 came in on the frozen fish.

**[2021-03-29T11:34:05] Robert F. Garry:** Here's the 60 Minutes transcript. https:/(www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-19-wuhan-origins-60-minutes-2021-03-28/I'm pretty sure they disallowed Daszak from calling a conspiracy theory a conspiracy theory.

**[2021-03-29T11:34:05] Kristian G. Andersen:** Such shit and biased reporting by 60 Minutes - I was not happy after watching. And I did right after the CNN documentary - which was exceptionally poor too (e.g., not a_single_ challenge from Gupta on what e.g., Brix or Redfield were saying - even Fauci was disingenuous multiple times).

**[2021-03-29T11:34:05] Andrew Rambaut:** @kristian Andersen It was someone called Mustafa Ababneh, Associate Professor of Veterinary Virology, Jordan University of Science and Technology. I am not collaborating with them, they were just suggesting a lineage.

**[2021-03-29T11:34:05] Andrew Rambaut:** @kristian Andersen We have that variant in the UK too.

**[2021-03-29T11:34:05] Kristian G. Andersen:** Ignoring Jamie for now, how can 60 Minutes let stuff like this go on air? No fact checking whatsoever? _Matt Pottinger: There was a direct order from Beijing to destroy all viral samples -- and they didn't volunteer toshare the genetic sequences._ _Matt Pottinger: There is a body of research that's been taking place conducted by the Chinese military incollaboration with the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which has not been acknowledged by the Chinese government. We've seen the data. I've personally seen the data._ _Matt Pottinger: We don't know. It is a major lead that needs to be pursued by the press, certainly by the World Health Organization. Beijing is simply not interested in allowing…