Failed presidential candidate Mitt Romney accused Tulsi Gabbard of spreading “treasonous lies” about U.S.-funded biolabs in Ukraine.
“Tulsi Gabbard is parroting false Russian propaganda,” Romney tweeted. “Her treasonous lies may well cost lives.”
Gabbard, who is a Democrat and former congresswoman from Hawaii, posted a video to social media claiming there are “25 to 30 U.S.-funded bio labs in Ukraine” that are “conducting research on dangerous pathogens.” In the video, Gabbard called for a ceasefire until the labs could be secured and the pathogens inside the labs destroyed.
Left-wing fact-checkers, such as USA Today, have been quick to point out that Russia is running a significant state-run disinformation campaign, which includes the false claim about US “biolabs” in Ukraine. Romney is advocating on behalf of these fact-checks that claim the biolabs are part of Russia’s propaganda campaign.
There’s just one big problem: During a Senate hearing, Toria Nuland confirmed “the Biden administration does fund a series of biolabs in Ukraine and whatever is in these labs is so dangerous that she is deeply concerned these materials will fall into the hands of the Russian military.” Fox News has also reported on the presence of Ukrainian biolabs in great depth. Here’s the clip of Nuland:
Until yesterday this was “fake news” and “conspiracy theory”. Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland just confirmed that #Ukraine has “biological research facilities”, when asked if Ukraine has bioweapons. She also said US is worried Russia may get “those research materials” pic.twitter.com/xY2a7KuUCG
— Dilyana Gaytandzhieva (@dgaytandzhieva) March 9, 2022
Nuland is the Biden official in charge of Ukraine, serving as the Under Secretary of State.
Tulsi pushed back hard against Romney’s claims. “Mitt Romney, you have called me a ‘treasonous liar’ for stating the fact that “there are 25+ US-funded biolabs in Ukraine which if breached would release & spread deadly pathogens to US/world” and therefore must be secured in order to prevent new pandemics.”
“Bizarrely, you claim that securing these labs (or even calling for securing these labs) is treasonous and will lead to a loss of life, when the exact opposite is obviously true. The spread of pathogens is what will cause the loss of life, not the prevention of such spread,” she wrote back.
Gabbard added a number of additional responses. Take a look:
… you claim that securing these labs (or even calling for securing these labs) is treasonous and will lead to a loss of life, when the exact opposite is obviously true. The spread of pathogens is what will cause the loss of life, not the prevention of such spread.
— Tulsi Gabbard ? (@TulsiGabbard) March 14, 2022
Evidence of the existence of such biolabs, their vulnerability, and thus the need to take immediate action to secure them is beyond dispute:
— Tulsi Gabbard ? (@TulsiGabbard) March 14, 2022
…to gain control of. We are working with the Ukrainians on how they can prevent any of those research materials from falling into the hands of Russian forces should they approach.”
— Tulsi Gabbard ? (@TulsiGabbard) March 14, 2022
“The United States, through BTRP, has invested approximately $200 million in Ukraine since 2005, supporting 46 Ukrainian laboratories, health facilities, and diagnostic sites.”
— Tulsi Gabbard ? (@TulsiGabbard) March 14, 2022
…where they do research on deadly pathogens like botulism and anthrax, seize one of those facilities, weaponize the pathogen, and then blame it on Ukraine and the US, because the US has been providing support for some of the research being done in those facilities.”
— Tulsi Gabbard ? (@TulsiGabbard) March 14, 2022
#5. CNN fact-check (March 10, 2022): “There are US-funded biolabs in Ukraine, that much is true.”
— Tulsi Gabbard ? (@TulsiGabbard) March 14, 2022
So, Senator Romney, you have a choice: out of pride, continue to deny the truth or admit you are wrong, apologize, and resign.
Aloha.
And remember that without the truth, we can be neither safe nor free.
— Tulsi Gabbard ? (@TulsiGabbard) March 14, 2022
A number of other people have spoken out against Romney. Here are a few notable responses to Romney:
Jon Gabriel, Ricochet: “The bar for ‘treason’ keeps dropping. Beginning to think the uniparty doesn’t hate Putin — they want to emulate his speech codes.”
Kurt Schlichter, attorney: “That’s LTC Gabbard to you. I don’t need to hear one damn word from anyone in your non-serving family about patriotism. And I don’t even agree with her, but at least she and I served – unlike you and your entire family of free riders – and we’ll both say whatever we want. Jerk.”
Ned Ryun, political commentator: “Dear Utah, upgrade your Senator please. He’s a pathetic idiot.”
David Marcus, columnist: “This is incredibly stupid. In America we’re allowed to have different opinions.”
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