Authored by Steve Watson via Modernity.news,
A CIA operations officer provided explosive sworn testimony Wednesday before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, accusing Dr. Anthony Fauci of directly intervening in the intelligence community’s review of COVID-19’s origins.
James Erdman III, a veteran CIA special operations officer, told senators that in August 2021 the intelligence community was on the verge of concluding the virus most likely leaked from a lab in Wuhan, China. Days later, that position reversed with no clear explanation.
Erdman stated under oath: “Dr. Fauci’s role in the cover-up was intentional. Dr. Fauci influenced the analytical process and findings by leveraging his position to ensure the IC consulted with a conflicted list of curated subject matter experts, public health officials, and scientists.”
BREAKING: A CIA whistleblower just testified UNDER OATH that Anthony Fauci DIRECTLY meddled with intelligence agencies to cover up the COVID lab leak.
Every day that Fauci remains free is an INJUSTICE.
Per the whistleblower, the CIA was on the verge of calling it a lab leak —… pic.twitter.com/V6c4Xx67zd
He added that intelligence leaders “purposefully downplayed the lab origin” and “knew the virus came from Wuhan but pushed the natural origin narrative anyway.” Erdman testified that CIA scientists had circulated papers noting “all the conditions were present for a lab leak,” yet senior analysts ultimately buried or softened those assessments.
Senator Rand Paul pressed Erdman on the timeline. Paul described the Biden administration’s final moves as a “clean-up operation,” noting: “Scientific analysts concluded multiple times between 2021 and 2023 that a lab leak was the most likely origin of COVID-19. Yet those conclusions never shaped the official narrative… It was not until after the 2024 election that the outgoing Biden administration directed the CIA to issue an assessment not because of new intelligence, but so officials could walk out of the door claiming there was nothing left to find.”
Sen. Rand Paul: "CIA scientists from an early time…were concluding that a lab leak was the most likely hypothesis?"
CIA whistleblower James Erdman III: "There were agencies within the IC circulating papers…that said that all the conditions were present for a lab leak." pic.twitter.com/qBp8BCrYvg
Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH) demanded accountability. He told the witness: “All these hearings are important. What you said is super critical… But where is the accountability? This is what I hear from my constituents all over Ohio… they want to see the perp walks.”
Moreno continued: “Anthony Fauci is sitting sipping margaritas somewhere with his multi-million dollar financial success as a result of duping the American people into putting an experimental vaccine into their bodies or risk losing their jobs. He’s not accountable to anybody.”
Senator Bernie Moreno just demanded the one thing everyone has been waiting for on Covid:
“Where is the accountability?”
He told the CIA whistleblower James Erdman III that hearings are nice — but the people want perp walks, starting with Anthony Fauci.
MORENO: “All these… pic.twitter.com/uV0i7mpNmF
Senators Ron Johnson and Rand Paul pushed back after the CIA labeled the public hearing “political theater.” Johnson stated: “This committee needs an apology! This is not political theater. This is what the American people need to see.” Paul added: “Closed-door testimony doesn’t provide oversight. Public testimony provides oversight.”
? NOW: Sens. Ron Johnson and Rand Paul go off on the CIA for calling their COVID coverup hearing with a CIA whistleblower "political theater"
JOHNSON: "This committee needs an apology! This is not political theater. This is what the American people need to see."
PAUL: "The CIA… pic.twitter.com/B4KVfuM8gP
Fox News reporter Bill Melugin noted the complete absence of Senate Democrats from the Homeland Security Committee hearing, despite several members serving on the panel. One Democrat, Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona, walked past the media setup but did not enter the room.
Fox’s Bill Melugin just exposed the stunning no-show by Senate Democrats at the CIA whistleblower hearing on Covid.
Not a SINGLE Democrat was in the room — even though several sit on the Homeland Security Committee.
MELUGIN: “There are no Senate Democrats inside of that hearing… pic.twitter.com/dERE0QpHWY
Erdman also raised separate concerns about oversight of declassification efforts. He claimed the CIA “took back 40 boxes of JFK and MK-Ultra files” that Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was reviewing.
The whistleblower further alleged the agency “illegally monitored the computer and phone usage” of investigators working on the COVID-19 origins probe under presidential direction. He said: “These were Americans being spied on illegally while carrying out duties directed by the President and under the authority of the Director of National Intelligence.”
CIA whistleblower claims the agency “took back 40 boxes of JFK and MK-Ultra files” that Tulsi Gabbard was reviewing for declassification.
The whistleblower also alleges the CIA “illegally monitored the computer and phone usage” of Gabbard’s investigators during the probe into… pic.twitter.com/AIRfS2utQE
The testimony aligns with earlier official reviews of the pandemic’s beginnings.
It builds on the White House’s comprehensive lab-leak assessment released in April 2025 and Department of Defense and Defense Intelligence Agency reports indicating the Biden Pentagon may have suppressed aspects of the origins investigation.
It also connects to prior reporting on gain-of-function research and public statements downplaying alternative theories, including pieces examining the experiment that may have started the pandemic.
The hearing underscores ongoing scrutiny of how federal agencies assessed and communicated the virus’s origins more than six years after the first cases emerged in Wuhan.
No immediate response from Fauci or the CIA was available at the time of publication beyond the agency’s statement criticizing the subpoena process. Further developments in related inquiries are expected.
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Tyler Durden Thu, 05/14/2026 - 11:20Soon on the heels of the successful 3-day and US-backed 'V-Day' ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, Russian forces have unleashed several days of drone and missile barrages on Ukrainian cities, especially the capital. It seems the Kremlin is bent on 'payback' for several weeks of effective Ukrainian long-range drone attacks which have badly damaged several Russian oil refineries and energy sites.
BBC reports Thursday that "At least seven people have been killed, including a 12-year-old girl, in Kyiv after Russia launched a massive wave of drone and missile strikes on the Ukrainian capital and other regions, officials have said."
The death toll is expected to rise given bodies are still being pulled from under the rubble of a destroyed apartment building in Kiev, while local emergency agencies say at least 20 people are feared missing. Dozens more were wounded in the attack, with at least 21 initially being transported to the hospital.
via Associated PressThursday marks the third day in a row Ukraine has witnessed deaths from the now unrelenting drone attacks, which followed the last day of the ceasefire, which expired on Monday.
President Zelensky later announced that the military tallied that Russia sent more than 670 drones and 56 missiles targeting the country overnight. This ranks it as among the largest aerial assaults since the war started in 2022.
Zelensky stated that the strikes hit at least 180 sites across Ukraine, including over 50 residential buildings, but also claimed an "overall interception rate" of 93%.
He additionally added a 48-hour tally: "In total, since midnight yesterday, Russia has used more than 1,560 drones against our cities and communities," he said on X.
"These are definitely not the actions of those who believe the war is coming to an end," he added, referring to Putin's Saturday speech wherein he hinted a the 'end' of the special military operation ending.
This week's strikes have been particularly devastating against large civilian neighborhoods. According to an Associated Press description:
As dawn broke on a clear day in Kyiv, a scene of devastation came into focus in the capital’s leafy Darnytsia neighborhood, located between a suburban forest and the Dnieper River. Wisps of smoke rose from the collapsed nine-story apartment block, where emergency workers dug under concrete slabs and took people away on stretchers. The building’s entrance was smashed in the strike, preventing residents from escaping.
All 18 apartments in the building were destroyed, officials said. Among the dead was a 12-year-old girl, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Zelenskyy said seven people were killed, with at least 20 people believed to be missing.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha in the latest overnight attack aftermath took to X to appeal to world leaders: "At the very time when leaders of the most powerful countries are meeting in Beijing, and the world hopes for peace, predictability and cooperation, Putin launched hundreds of drones, ballistic and cruise missiles at the capital of Ukraine," he wrote.
🗺 Approximate map of Russian missile and drone strikes across Ukraine over the past 24 hours
The map highlights particularly massive attacks on Kyiv, as well as a large number of targets in western Ukraine.
As a reminder, since yesterday evening alone, Russia has attacked… pic.twitter.com/GJ8UGmMrNG
Speaking of Putin, he added: "Only pressure on Moscow can make him stop." However, it seems White House attention has been absorbed in the Iran war and ongoing Hormuz blockade standoff, and the impact on global energy.
While Presidents Trump and Xi are expected to dialogue on finding a way toward peace in the Russia-Ukraine war, most attention has been paid so far to what's next in the Persian Gulf. The question of Ukraine peace has taken a back seat for much of the past year.
Tyler Durden Thu, 05/14/2026 - 11:00During President Trump's ongoing state visit to China, he and President Xi Jinping agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must be open for the free flow of energy. They along with their senior officials have expressed agreement that no country can be allowed to exact shipping tolls in the Strait of Hormuz.
Following this, Thursday saw Iranian state media proclaim that some 30 Chinese vessels are being allowed safe passage by Iran. Bloomberg also freshly reports, "The vessels were allowed to pass the Strait of Hormuz with the coordination of the Iranian authorities and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ navy, state TV reports, citing an IRGC naval official." While it's as yet unknown or unclear whether the US Navy side of the de facto blockade will also let them pass, Reuters has also reported the following:
Iran has begun allowing some Chinese vessels to transit through the Strait of Hormuz following an understanding over Iranian management protocols for the waterway, the semi-official Fars news agency said on Thursday, citing an informed source.
via ReutersIn particular the move also follows formal requests by China's foreign minister as well as Beijing's ambassador to Iran, with Tehran reportedly agreeing based on safeguarding the two allies' strategic partnership.
Bloomberg cited the IRGC official as saying of the Iranian protocol for passage, "A new era in the Strait of Hormuz has started as many countries of the world and fleets have accepted that the best, quickest and simplest way for transiting this very important waterway is only though coordination with the IRGC’s naval forces."
This was after Wednesday saw the key milestone of a Chinese supertanker carrying 2 million barrels of Iraqi crude having successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz, after previously being stranded for more than two months.
Also of note is that the Chinese Cosco Shipping tanker did not have to pay tolls. According to The Wall Street Journal:
Lloyd’s List Intelligence data show the Yuan Hua Hu crossed the waterway through the corridor in the north controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Ship trackers said the vessel switched off its transponder while sailing from an anchorage in Dubai towards Larak, then came back online for a couple of hours before going dark again. Ships crossing through Larak pay an average of $2 million each, according to brokers.
The Yuan Hua Hu is the third Chinese state-owned tanker to leave the Gulf since the start of the war.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott emphasized earlier this week that Washington and Beining "agreed that no country or organization can be allowed to charge tolls to pass through international waterways like the Strait of Hormuz."
China imports the bulk of its energy from the Middle East, and while it has amassed substantial crude oil stockpiles that are helping it weather the worst of the crisis - anecdotally over 1.4 billion barrels - restoring normal flows from the Persian Gulf is important for one of the world’s top energy importers.
Are Iran and China coordinating behind the scenes to seek to take negotiating leverage away from Trump?
Chinese companies are in talks for major new arms sales to Iran, explicitly ignoring Trump's letter to Xi before his arrival.
And in return, Iran just granted more than 10 Chinese ships, including oil tankers, passage through the Strait of Hormuz — preempting any U.S. attempt to… pic.twitter.com/k4H3vG0vgb
Earlier in the war, reports emerged that Beijing had pressured Iranian officials to stop attacking vessels carrying crude oil and LNG via Hormuz. Judging from later events that involved Iranian strikes on vessels in the chokepoint, Tehran did not yield to the pressure.
Tyler Durden Thu, 05/14/2026 - 10:55Summary:
Indian Cargo Ship Sinks in Suspected Drone Attack off Oman
Iranian Commandos Board & Seize Honduras-Flagged Ship Off UAE
Maritime data company Windward revealed on X:
Indian cargo vessel sunk by suspected drone attack off Oman The MSV HAJI ALI (MMSI: 419908021) has gone down in the Strait of Hormuz region. The 57m vessel was running dark (AIS disabled) at the time of the incident.
The ship had recently transited from Somalia. All crew members have been successfully rescued. No fatalities reported. Note: As a vessel under 500 GT, it does not have a formal IMO number.
This incident highlights the escalating risks for smaller commercial vessels operating in regional chokepoints. While attention is often on large tankers, small tonnage like the Haji Ali is increasingly exposed in this shadow war.
Iranian Commandos Board & Seize Honduras-Flagged Ship Off UAEIt appears the Iranians have boarded and seized another ship in the Persian Gulf region - this time as the vessel was anchored off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, and while it was reportedly en route to Iranian territorial waters.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said Thursday that the vessel was seized by "unauthorized personnel", with the initial incident being reported about 38 nautical miles northeast of the UAE port of Fujairah.
via ReutersThe agency said the ship's company security officer reported that "the vessel has been taken by unauthorized personnel while at anchor and is now bound for Iranian Territorial Waters."
UKMTO said it is seeking more information incident and urgently advised vessels operating in the area to report any suspicious activity. While the agency did not immediately identify the vessel, Reuters in follow up interestingly described that is a mere fishery research vessel. According to the report:
A vessel was boarded by unauthorized personnel on Thursday while at anchor northeast of the United Arab Emirates port of Fujairah and was heading towards Iranian territorial waters, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said.
Two maritime security sources said the ship was believed to be the Honduras-flagged Hui Chuan fishery research vessel.
Ship tracking data on the MarineTraffic platform indicates vessel was last seen in the Gulf of Oman, just within Iran's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on May 12; however, an EEZ can still be considered international waters - though the Iranians are apparently not interpreting it that way.
In the face of the ongoing US naval blockade of Iranian ports, Tehran is seeking to assert its geographic and military leverage, enforcing an 'Iranian protocol' over the vital Strait of Hormuz oil and goods shipping waterway.
This week has seen Iran begin to let more Chinese vessels through, at the request of Beijing, and reportedly without imposing tolls either.
Bloomberg freshly reports Thursday of 30 Chinese ships, "The vessels were allowed to pass the Strait of Hormuz with the coordination of the Iranian authorities and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ navy, state TV reports, citing an IRGC naval official."
Diplomacy has taken a back seat at the moment, as each warring side seeks to 'wait out' the other in hopes that enough economic pain can be imposed to 'cry uncle' - as President Trump himself has recently expressed.
Tyler Durden Thu, 05/14/2026 - 10:45