White House blocks Fauci from testifying to Congress on coronavirus response

By Jeff Mason and Richard Cowan

 

FILE PHOTO: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci speaks during a coronavirus response meeting in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 29, 2020. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Top U.S. health official Anthony Fauci will not testify next week to a congressional committee examining the Trump administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic, the White House said on Friday, calling it "counterproductive" to have individuals involved in the response testify.

 

The White House issued an emailed statement after a spokesman for the House of Representatives committee holding the hearing said the panel had been informed by Trump administration officials that Fauci had been blocked from testifying.

 

"While the Trump administration continues its whole-of-government response to COVID-19, including safely opening up America again and expediting vaccine development, it is counter-productive to have the very individuals involved in those efforts appearing at congressional hearings," White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement. "We are committed to working with Congress to offer testimony at the appropriate time."

 

Fauci's testimony was being sought for a May 6 hearing by a House Appropriations subcommittee that oversees health programs, said spokesman Evan Hollander. The Washington Post first reported that Fauci would not testify.

 

Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has been one of the leading medical experts helping to guide the U.S. response to the highly contagious virus that has swept across the United States.

 

Trump has repeatedly clashed with the Democratic-controlled House over its moves to investigate his actions or those of his administration.

 

In recent days, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer have urged wide-ranging investigations into Trump's handling of the coronavirus outbreak, which has killed tens of thousands of Americans.

 

Democrats have criticized Trump, saying he has failed to develop a comprehensive and effective plan for testing Americans for the coronavirus and tracing contacts of those who are infected by the virus that causes the sometimes fatal COVID-19 respiratory disease.

 

Fauci, 79, has had a respectful but sometimes complicated relationship with Trump.

 

The well-regarded doctor has at times corrected or contradicted the president at White House briefings or in press interviews on issues such as the time required to develop a vaccine and the likelihood that the coronavirus will return in the fall.

 

Trump has occasionally shown exasperation with Fauci but ultimately has followed, largely, the advice that he and Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House’s coronavirus task force coordinator, have provided on responding to the pandemic.

 

Last month, the White House said Trump was not firing Fauci despite his retweet of a supporter’s #FireFauci message.

 

At the time, White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said: "Dr. Fauci has been and remains a trusted adviser to President Trump."

 

Aides to Fauci were not immediately available to comment on the House committee's desire to have him testify.

(Reporting by Jeff Mason and Richard Cowan; Editing by Sandra Maler, Leslie Adler and Daniel Wallis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-05-03

 

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9 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Top U.S. health official Anthony Fauci will not testify next week to a congressional committee examining the Trump administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic, the White House said on Friday, calling it "counterproductive" to have individuals involved in the response testify.

Counterproductive to trumps re-election chances or avoiding the truth coming out?

Edited May 3, 20206 yr by Bluespunk

If he has to testify just have him say what virus.

20 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

"We are committed to working with Congress to offer testimony at the appropriate time."

That will be AFTER the election IF Donald wins.

regards Worgeordie

 

Must be something Trump wants to keep hidden. On May 1 the highest  number of Americans died from the virus since the pandemic started. Just under 3k.  It's very unlikely the good doc was  going to testify that reopening the economy, which is Trump's current narrative, is a good idea.

24 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

Counterproductive to trumps re-election chances or avoiding the truth coming out?

Blind Freddy can see the truth of how totally incompetent Trump has been. Hard to comprehend how the self proclaimed "most advanced country on Earth" could get it so wrong! 

38 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Trump has repeatedly clashed with the Democratic-controlled House over its moves to investigate his actions or those of his administration.

for somebody claiming that he has nothing to hide...sure his actions are contradictory to his claims, actions speak louder then words

Fauci is at saint status now. He has stuck around because he puts his country first. He takes the abuse  from trump because he cares for the public health of the world.

USA or China leaders both seem alike to a foreigner like me.

Making America GREAT again lol.

13 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

Blind Freddy can see the truth of how totally incompetent Trump has been. Hard to comprehend how the self proclaimed "most advanced country on Earth" could get it so wrong! 

 

Who says America is the most advanced country on Earth? I think we're 27th or 28th in both educational and medical outcomes, and that didn't start with Trump. And God knows it's not going to end with Biden.

5 minutes ago, geriatrickid said:

Fauci is at saint status now. He has stuck around because he puts his country first. He takes the abuse  from trump because he cares for the public health of the world.

 

That is true, but let's face it there should be another generation of scientists leading this now. These people have stayed around way too long. The same goes for almost every other division of government. Pass the torch!

As diabolical as the CCP blocking Dr Li Wenliang from speaking the truth. 

Just now, Eric Loh said:

As diabolical as the CCP blocking Dr Li Wenliang from speaking the truth. 

birds of the feather flick together .... monkey see monkey do

So just why would the clown want Dr. Fauci's testimony blocked? Obvious answer.

 

But of course the clown would love to see an investigation into China's response to the virus. 

 

'Do as I say, not as I do' comes to mind.

 

Edited May 3, 20206 yr by scorecard

it's all politics.

 

the democrats control the house, and are shirley to ask the most embarrassing questions, and try to lead the witness into statements that would be quote-mined to damage the trump regime.

 

he will speak at the regime-friendly republican controlled senate on the 12th where he will be asked the appropriate softball questions.

Nothing to hide, nothing to fear.

I guess Trump fears Fauci will confirm this wonderful video from China.

u

Anybody who paid attention has already a good idea what Fauci could/would tell congress. It was all over the news.

But then there are lots of people in the USA who think it's all fake news if fox or Breitbart does not report it.

Would any of those ignorant people listen to Fauci in front of Congress? Would any of the GOP politicians admit that Trumps leadership was constantly bad or not existent? They want to be blind and they don't want any information which could confuse their confused world-view. And they call themselves a first world country. It would be funny if it wouldn't be so sad.

Usual MO from Trump White House with everything to hide following a deplorable response to the pandemic; anything to stop the truth coming out, obfuscate, evade, not answer, lie....all part of well rehearsed cover up by team Trump.

 

Since they can't trust Fauci to testify and worry he will be honest, he is no longer trustworthy to the White House and will be smeared, vilified and fired. Expect a rape accusation against Fauci in the near future, followed by assertions by Trump if incompetence, followed by a firing.

1 hour ago, Eric Loh said:

As diabolical as the CCP blocking Dr Li Wenliang from speaking the truth. 

Di Li was an ophthalmologist, with no expertise in infectious disease. In my opinion it was highly improper for him to be discussing it on social media until he had explored official official routes with infectious disease expertise.

Of course the White House seeks to block Fauci as his wildly inaccurate models of how many people are going to die is all so much BS. 

Why panic the citizens more? 

Stuff a sock in it Fauci. 

 

MAGA 

14 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

Of course the White House seeks to block Fauci as his wildly inaccurate models of how many people are going to die is all so much BS. 

Why panic the citizens more? 

Stuff a sock in it Fauci. 

 

MAGA 

Then why is he going to testify in the senate?

 

So trump is negligent to listen to him. Glad we agree.

Edited May 3, 20206 yr by Sujo

Yet the White House has cleared Fauci to testify before a a Republican majority Senate committee. But the Democrat members of the committee will still have some opportunity to ask questions. 

So much for misuse of Fauci's valuable time. 

2 hours ago, lannarebirth said:

 

That is true, but let's face it there should be another generation of scientists leading this now. These people have stayed around way too long. The same goes for almost every other division of government. Pass the torch!

The new generation actually learn from those with experience in similar matters like fauci. Even if he was retired you can be sure the new guy would be asking his advice.

 

in cases such as this, experience is important. I wouldnt like to have to rely on the advice of someone with little experience n such matters.

Dr. Tony Fauci is a shining example of conflict of interest, "mysterious" links with pharmaceutical companies, with social control programs, work relations and personal relationships with very dubious countries, people and organization. 
 

20 minutes ago, zhounan said:

Dr. Tony Fauci is a shining example of conflict of interest, "mysterious" links with pharmaceutical companies, with social control programs, work relations and personal relationships with very dubious countries, people and organization. 
 

And I'm 100% sure that you can back up all these innuendos and accusations with factual links........right?

 

 

I suspect that Fauci would have lost his job after testifying truthfully to congress.  The last thing Trump wants is for any truth to be publicized.

53 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

Of course the White House seeks to block Fauci as his wildly inaccurate models of how many people are going to die is all so much BS. 

Why panic the citizens more? 

Stuff a sock in it Fauci. 

 

MAGA 

would you prefer he simply pull a number out of his butt and stick with it regardless of new information?

 

models are designed to be updated as new data become available.

 

i'd rather have the scientists, however imperfect, provide a data-based estimate than some politician tell me "don't worry, 100% under control."

The only man in the White House who knows what he's talking about and he's not allowed to speak...

4 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

Counterproductive to trumps re-election chances or avoiding the truth coming out?

 

I don't thinks that the real question. The fundamental question is are Congress looking to learn valuable lessons from this to improve future responses; or are they hoping to find things they can highlight, twist, assign false meaning to, make invalid claims about, draw unsupported conclusions from etc etc just to attack Trump?

 

Based on recent behavior, the answer seems fairly obvious. Should positions be reversed, with a Democrat POTUS and Republican House, I wonder if the Republicans will then act the same as their rivals now do?