White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday that President Joe Biden has made no decision on whether he will sign into law a bill declassifying intelligence on the origins of the COVID pandemic that was unanimously passed in both chambers of Congress.
The legislation was introduced by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and has been fiercely opposed by communist China, which has pressured him to abandon the legislation.
Jean-Pierre said that the administration was “looking at it” when asked by a reporter about the matter during a press briefing.
“And, as you know, just months after the president came into office, he asked his intelligence community to double down and to take a look of the, of, uh, the origins, of the COVID origins because we believe it’s important to get to the bottom of this,” she said. “And to get in also, if once we have, once the Intelligence Committee has made the, made their assessments clearly, we would share that with the public. As it relates to the legislation, we’re going to continue to, we’re going to take a look at it, and certainly we’ll have more to share.”
When asked if a decision has been made, Jean-Pierre responded, “No, we’re just taking a look, we’re taking a look into the — into the bill.”
WATCH:
“I wonder if you do have an answer now as to whether or not the president will sign the covid origins intelligence bill that was unanimously passed?"
KJP: *dodges* pic.twitter.com/OJGScVbzo2
— Conservative War Machine (@WarMachineRR) March 16, 2023
TRANSCRIPT:
REPORTER: I wonder if you do have an answer now as to whether or not the President will sign the COVID origins intelligence bill that was unanimously passed?
KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: So, we are, thank you for the question. I know I was asked about it, I believe on the plane on Monday, as you just mentioned, so we’re looking at it. We have continued to share information with members of Congress. And, as you know, just months after the President came into office, he asked his intelligence community to double down and to take a look of the, of, uh, the origins, of the COVID origins because we believe it’s important to get to the bottom of this. And to get in also, if once we have, once the Intelligence Committee has made the, made their assessments clearly, we would share that with the public. As it relates to the legislation, we’re going to continue to, we’re going to take a look at it, and certainly we’ll have more to share.
REPORTER: You haven’t a decision whether to–?
JEAN-PIERRE: No, we’re just taking a look, we’re taking a look into the into the bill.
Related: House Votes 419-0 To Declassify All Intel On COVID Origins