WASHINGTON, D.C. — The CIA has revised its position on the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, now leaning toward the controversial lab leak theory, according to a recent assessment. The agency, under its new director John Ratcliffe, has issued a statement indicating that a “research-related origin” is more likely than a natural one, though the confidence in this judgment remains low.

This change marks a significant shift from the CIA’s previous agnostic stance, maintained for years due to a purported lack of intelligence. However, no new evidence was cited to support the updated assessment, raising questions about the timing and motives behind the change.

A Controversial Shift Under Ratcliffe’s Leadership

John Ratcliffe, confirmed as CIA director on Thursday, has long been a vocal proponent of the lab leak theory. In an interview with Breitbart, Ratcliffe framed the agency’s updated stance as part of a broader effort to confront what he called the “threat from China.”

“The CIA is the world’s premier spy agency. Its reach is unmatched, its ability to acquire information unrivaled,” Ratcliffe said, criticizing the agency’s previous reluctance to take a definitive position.

The latest review of COVID’s origins was initiated under former National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan during the final months of President Joe Biden’s term. Despite the new assessment favoring the lab leak theory, a CIA spokesperson emphasized the agency’s ongoing uncertainty.

“We have low confidence in this judgment and will continue to evaluate any available credible new intelligence reporting or open-source information that could change our assessment,” the spokesperson told preCharge News.

Lab Leak Theory Gains Ground Amid Political Divisions

Ratcliffe’s rise to leadership has brought renewed scrutiny to the Biden administration’s handling of COVID-origin investigations. In a March 2023 article co-written with former White House official Cliff Sims, Ratcliffe accused Biden’s team of suppressing evidence supporting the lab leak theory.

“The notion that the CIA doesn’t have enough information to make an assessment is utter nonsense,” the piece stated. Ratcliffe and Sims dismissed the natural origin theory as lacking any credible intelligence or scientific evidence, further bolstering their case for the lab leak hypothesis.

This sentiment echoed Ratcliffe’s testimony before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic in April 2023, where he declared the lab leak theory “the only explanation credibly supported by our intelligence, by science, and by common sense.”

Lingering Questions and Geopolitical Implications

The CIA’s updated stance has sparked debate among intelligence officials, scientists, and policymakers. Critics argue that without new evidence, the agency’s shift may reflect political pressures rather than a genuine breakthrough.

Supporters of the lab leak theory, however, view the change as overdue. “The world deserves transparency,” Ratcliffe said in his Breitbart interview, underscoring his commitment to revealing the truth about the pandemic’s origins.

As the CIA continues its investigation, the question of COVID-19’s origins remains a contentious issue with global implications, especially as tensions with China persist.