Slack / Private Message Drop — page 1091

Just FYI - draft of letter that'll go back to the GOP'ers tomorrow. [shared file(s): 2.17.22 Scripps Letter_Dr. Kristian Andersen_kga.DOCX] [2022-02-16 12:58:16] [Kristian Andersen] ... and obviously - please keep this confidential. [2022-02-16 13:09:01] [Eddie Holmes] I'll read when I get a chance. My Uni were just putting out a press statement: [2022-02-16 13:09:28] [Eddie Holmes] "Professor Holmes was part of an international team that carefully and independently considered the origins of COVID-19 and found no scientific evidence that it was due to laboratory escape. This resulted in the publication of a peer-reviewed scientific paper,_The Proximal Origins of SARS-CoV-2_, which was submitted on 17 February 2020. Dr Collins and Dr Fauci played no role in writing this paper. A number of eminent scientists, including Professor Holmes, initially had concerns that the virus may have a laboratory origin, so they organised a teleconference with a group of experts. Scientific discussion during the teleconference concluded that many of these concerns were unfounded. As the discussions took place, the first data from a coronavirus in pangolins became available, which clearly showed that some of the unusual features found in SARS-CoV-2 were also found in nature. The conclusion that SARS-CoV-2 likely has a natural origin was based entirely on available scientific evidence. Professor Holmes strongly defends the integrity and independence of his research, which is driven by the pursuit of scientific truth and no other purpose. *If asked, how will Professor Holmes be responding to the letter?* He will not be responding to the letter." [2022-02-16 13:26:20] [Kristian Andersen] Is this online? [2022-02-16 13:27:19] [Kristian Andersen] This bit reads quite funny to me: "A number of eminent scientists, including Professor Holmes, initially had concerns that the virus may have a laboratory origin, so they organised a teleconference with a group of experts. Scientific discussion during the teleconference concluded that many of these concerns were unfounded. As the discussions took place, the first data from a coronavirus in pangolins became available" It makes it sound as if all of this happened on the conference call - which, of course, isn't true. [2022-02-16 13:29:29] [Eddie Holmes] Just a draft. Can be changed. [2022-02-16 13:31:16] [Eddie Holmes] "A number of eminent scientists, including Professor Holmes, initially had concerns that the virus may have a laboratory origin, so they organised a teleconference with a group of experts. Scientific discussion during the teleconference concluded that many of these concerns were unfounded. Professor Holmes and his peers did further analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 genome data, which pointed to a natural origin, and during this time the first data from a