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The Washington Examiner revealed that the Hormel Institute has worked closely with the Wuhan Institute on various projects, most notably a joint study on COVID-19 conducted in 2020. These collaborations have continued, with the latest involving structural biology research as recently as this year. The partnership between the two research centers has drawn sharp criticism, especially given the ongoing concerns about the lab’s connection to China’s military.
Brian Cavanaugh, a former White House National Security Council official, expressed deep concerns about U.S. institutions working with the WIV. “The Wuhan Institute of Virology has direct ties to China’s People’s Liberation Army,” Cavanaugh told the Washington Examiner. “The Hormel Institute is helping a foreign adversary.” His remarks have only added fuel to the growing firestorm surrounding Walz’s involvement with the Institute.
The Hormel Institute itself has played a prominent role in Minnesota’s push to lead in biomedical innovation. In a statement made earlier this year, Walz praised the Institute for positioning Minnesota as a national hub for biotech. “For 80+ years, the Hormel Institute has helped pave the way for Minnesota to lead in biomedical innovation,” Walz said during a visit to the facility in Austin, Minnesota. The governor has often highlighted the Institute’s role in shaping the future of the state’s industries, particularly in green energy, sustainable agriculture, and biotechnology.
However, the Institute’s collaboration with the Wuhan lab has cast a shadow over these achievements. The federal government’s decision to halt funding to a nonprofit that worked with the WIV earlier this year has only intensified the scrutiny. This action, combined with Walz’s frequent travel to China and his past comments about U.S.-China relations, has raised questions about the extent of his involvement with Chinese institutions.
In 2016, Walz downplayed the notion of viewing China as an adversary, saying, “I do not fall into the category that China necessarily needs to be an adversarial relationship” with the U.S. His stance has drawn renewed attention in light of the ongoing investigation, especially as concerns grow about China’s influence in critical areas of scientific research.
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The congressional investigation is expected to delve into Walz’s financial support for the Hormel Institute. As a congressman, Walz was instrumental in securing over $2 million in federal funding for the Institute’s technology acquisitions. He also advocated for a $5 million federal earmark for the University of Minnesota-based research center in 2008, further solidifying his role as a key backer of the Institute’s growth.
The Hormel Institute’s ties to the WIV have raised alarms among policymakers and national security experts, with many questioning the wisdom of continued cooperation with an institution linked to the Chinese military. As the investigation unfolds, the spotlight will likely remain on Walz’s relationship with the Institute and whether it poses a national security risk.
With Walz now firmly in the national political arena as a vice-presidential candidate, the pressure on him to explain these connections is mounting.
