​​​​​​​After initially ignoring congressional hearings on the origins of COVID-19 final week, CBS Mornings warmed as much as the more and more possible principle that the virus originated from a lab leak in Wuhan, China on Monday. They even adopted the Watergate truism of “observe the cash” to scrutinize U.S. funds to the lab the place they had been reportedly conducting dangerous “gain-of-function analysis,” and overbilling the U.S. companies that had been doling out funds hand over fist to the tune of tens of millions of {dollars}.

“We have got new particulars to share with you immediately about an investigation into U.S. funding the Chinese language analysis lab within the metropolis on the heart of the pandemic,” co-anchor Michelle Miller introduced. “It is elevating questions on how intently handed administrations had been following the usage of the cash.”

CBS investigative correspondent Catherine Herridge spoke with Diane Cutler, a former federal investigator of white-collar crimes employed by Republican Senator Roger Marshall (KS) to dig via billing paperwork from the Nationwide Institutes of Well being (NIH) and the U.S. Company for Worldwide Growth (USAID).

“My assortment is definitely properly over 50,000 paperwork,” Cutler advised Herridge. “So, what I discovered to this point is proof that factors to double billing, potential theft of presidency funds. It’s regarding, particularly because it entails harmful pathogens and dangerous analysis.”

Along with presumably double billing the U.S. for the dangerous analysis that presumably spawned the pandemic that killed 1.1 million Individuals, Herridge famous it additionally “included attainable medical provides, tools, journey, and salaries.”

Herridge additionally reported that former CDC director Dr. Robert Redfield had testified to Congress that “cash from a number of U.S. authorities companies supported high-risk virus analysis in Wuhan.” And attending to the underside of it was one thing she spoke with Senator Marshall about in an interview:

HERRIDGE: Does following the cash get us nearer to understanding the origins of COVID-19?

MARSHALL: Following the cash all the time appears to work in investigations.

“I feel there’s 1.1 million causes that American taxpayers ought to care,” Marshall declared. “If a aircraft crashes, we wish to discover out why the aircraft crashes. We go to any size to try this. And the hope is we do not have one other aircraft crash for a similar cause.”

Herridge concluded her report by informing viewers that “[s]ources advised CBS Information that tens of tens of millions of U.S. taxpayer {dollars} could possibly be concerned, and the findings may present new perception into the Wuhan analysis.”

She additionally famous that her investigative reporting was getting stonewalled by the doubtful companies in query. “Spokesperson for USAID declined to remark, and the NIH press workplace didn’t reply to CBS Information’s questions,” she reported.

The transcript is beneath, click on “broaden” to learn:

CBS Mornings
March 13, 2023
7:30:22 a.m. Jap

MICHELLE MILLER: We have got new particulars to share with you immediately about an investigation into U.S. funding the Chinese language analysis lab within the metropolis on the heart of the pandemic. It is elevating questions on how intently handed administrations had been following the usage of the cash. Senior investigative correspondent Catherine Herridge joins us from Washington with extra. Good morning, Catherine.

CATHERINE HERRIDGE: Good morning, Michelle. Sources inform CBS information an investigation of this complexity may take at the very least six months to achieve a conclusion about whether or not U.S. authorities companies had been billed twice for tasks in Wuhan, China. The probe kicked off after new info got here to gentle from Congress.

[Cuts to video]

DIANE CUTLER (former federal investigator): We’re gathering proof right here and gathering information.

HERRIDGE: Former federal investigator Diane Cutler spent 20 years combating white-collar crime and healthcare fraud. In the course of the pandemic, Cutler turned her consideration to U.S. authorities grants that supported coronavirus-related analysis in China.

What number of data have you ever seen?

CUTLER: My assortment is definitely properly over 50,000 paperwork.

HERRIDGE: Information reviewed by CBS Information point out the U.S. authorities could have paid twice for tasks on the Wuhan labs via the Nationwide Institutes of Well being and the U.S. Company for Worldwide Growth or USAID.

CUTLER: So categorized it and drilled down from there.

HERRIDGE: This included attainable medical provides, tools, journey, and salaries.

CUTLER: So, what I discovered to this point is proof that factors to double billing, potential theft of presidency funds. It’s regarding, particularly because it entails harmful pathogens and dangerous analysis.

HERRIDGE: Whereas intelligence companies cannot agree on how the pandemic that killed greater than 1.1 million Individuals began, the FBI and now the Vitality Division have discovered an unintentional lab leak is believable. Not doubtlessly via contaminated animals at a close-by market.

At latest congressional hearings into the origins of COVID-19, the previous CDC director stated cash from a number of U.S. authorities companies supported high-risk virus analysis in Wuhan.

DR. ROBERT REDFIELD (former CDC director): I feel it didn’t solely from NIH however from the State Division, USAID, and from DOD.

HERRIDGE: Does following the cash get us nearer to understanding the origins of COVID-19?

SEN. ROGER MARSHALL (R-KS): Following the cash all the time appears to work in investigations.

HERRIDGE: Republican Senator Roger Marshall employed Cutler and took her data to USAID’s inner watchdog which opened its personal probe. Particulars of which haven’t been beforehand reported.

What must occur subsequent?

MARSHALL: Subsequent we do want this 9/11-style fee. I name it apolitical, nonpolitical, we have to get this exterior of Washington, D.C.

HERRIDGE: Sources conversant in the grant data didn’t dispute CBS Information’s reporting. In a press release, a spokesperson for the USAID Inspector Common declined to touch upon the existence of a selected open investigation.

Why ought to U.S. Taxpayers care?

MARSHALL: I feel there’s 1.1 million causes that American taxpayers ought to care. If a aircraft crashes, we wish to discover out why the aircraft crashes. We go to any size to try this. And the hope is we do not have one other aircraft crash for a similar cause.

[Cuts back to live]

HERRIDGE: Sources advised CBS Information that tens of tens of millions of U.S. taxpayer {dollars} could possibly be concerned, and the findings may present new perception into the Wuhan analysis. Spokesperson for USAID declined to remark, and the NIH press workplace didn’t reply to CBS Information’s questions. Tony?

TONY DOKOUPIL: Following the cash, all the time appears to work. The Senator’s proper about that. And also you’re excellent at it, Catherine. Thanks very a lot.