Fauci Faces GOP Grilling in First Congressional Testimony Since Leaving Government

[Social Media]

 

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the prominent public face of the U.S. government's response to the coronavirus pandemic, is set to testify before a GOP-led committee on Monday. This marks his first congressional testimony in nearly two years, focusing on alleged misconduct during his leadership of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

 

Fauci, who directed NIAID for nearly four decades, will appear before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic. This testimony, his first since leaving government service at the end of 2022, follows closed-door interviews with the subcommittee earlier this year. The transcripts of these interviews were released last Friday, setting the stage for what promises to be a contentious hearing.

 

In his last congressional testimony in September 2022, Fauci discussed the response to the mpox outbreak before the Senate Health Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Now, he faces scrutiny over his agency's oversight during the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought him into the national spotlight.

 

Public Records Controversy

A central issue likely to dominate the hearing involves allegations of misconduct related to public records. Fauci is expected to face tough questions from Republicans about his knowledge of efforts by NIAID officials to evade public records laws. Recent testimonies from EcoHealth Alliance President Peter Daszak and David Morens, a senior adviser to Fauci, have not alleviated Republican concerns.

Emails previously publicized and discussed during Morens’s testimony suggested that Fauci was aware of public records misconduct at NIAID. In one exchange with Daszak, Morens wrote, “... there is no worry about FOIAs. I can either send stuff to Tony on his private gmail, or hand it to him at work or at his house. He is too smart to let colleagues send him stuff that could cause trouble.” This has led subcommittee Chair Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) to question Fauci's role in fostering such behavior under his leadership. Wenstrup expressed his concerns, saying, “Under Dr. Fauci, we see Dr. Daszak from EcoHealth Alliance and Dr. David Morens and their willingness to deceive. And you know, they seem to be without scruples.”

 

A Partisan Hearing

The hearing is expected to reflect stark partisan divides. Republicans, led by Wenstrup, plan to question Fauci about the grant process, Morens’s communications with Daszak, and Fauci's views on the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. Wenstrup emphasized the need to understand and rectify past mistakes to improve future processes, stating, “Maybe we’ll get to hear from him on how we can do things better in the future.”

Fauci’s previous interviews indicated his difficulty recalling specific details, a point Republicans might exploit. Wenstrup speculated, “It’s probably in his best interest to not recall them.”

Conversely, Democratic committee member Rep. Deborah Ross (N.C.) intends to focus on lessons learned and improving public health communication. She criticized attacks on public health officials like Fauci, noting, “It would be worthwhile if we could work together toward a common goal. But I don’t think it’s worthwhile to attack a public health official who did everything that he could at the time with the goal of public health in mind.”

 

Fauci’s Interviews

The transcripts from Fauci’s January interviews reveal his thoughts on the pandemic and his tenure as NIAID director. He maintained an open stance towards both natural origins and lab-leak theories of the virus but leaned towards natural origins based on current scientific evidence. Fauci also reiterated that U.S. grants did not fund gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, defining such research as experiments designed to enhance a pathogen's transmissibility and pathogenesis. During his interviews, Fauci also discussed the personal toll of his public role. He linked increased threats and harassment against him and his family to statements made by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who accused Fauci of being responsible for millions of deaths. Fauci recalled, “Every time Sen. Rand Paul gets up and says I’m responsible for the death of 4 million people, the death threats go up off the wall, the threats against me and my wife and my children go off the wall.” Fauci described the constant threats as involving violent, sexually explicit messages directed at his family, illustrating the severe personal impact of his public position.

 

Upcoming Testimony

Dr. Fauci is scheduled to testify before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic on Monday at 10 a.m. EDT. The hearing is expected to be intense, reflecting deep partisan divides over the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and Fauci's role in it.

 

 

Credit: The Hill 2024-06-04

 

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[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Fauci dismisses ‘preposterous’ allegations that he led covid coverup

The infectious-disease expert said Republicans have distorted emails between scientists as they discussed whether a lab leak of the coronavirus was possible.

Anthony S. Fauci defended himself Monday against claims that he orchestrated a coverup of the coronavirus pandemic’s origins, with the former government official rejecting some allegations as “simply preposterous.”

 

The prominent infectious-disease expert, who served as a senior leader at the National Institutes of Health for four decades before leaving government at the end of 2022, said Republicans have distorted emails between himself and other scientists as they discussed whether a laboratory leak of the coronavirus was possible.

 

“We spend our whole life trying to determine the causes of infectious diseases, and stop them to protect the American people,” Fauci said, adding that he did not pressure colleagues to reach a conclusion about the origins of the virus and disputing other Republican charges.

 

(more)

 

Washington Post

https://archive.ph/u0Kv8

 

.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Fauci testifies about possible origins of virus that caused Covid-19

....

"Fauci testified that in early 2020, he was informed through phone calls with two scientists — Jeremy Farrar, then the director of the Wellcome Trust in the UK and Kristian Andersen, a scientist at Scripps Research — that they and others were concerned that the virus that causes Covid-19 could have been manipulated in the lab.

...

Fauci said the virologists on the joint call decided to more carefully examine the genomic sequence and after further examination, and said, “several who at first were concerned about lab manipulation became convinced that the virus was not deliberately manipulated.” Scientists found the most likely scenario, Fauci said, was a virus that transferred from an animal to a human, “although they still kept an open mind.”

 

“The accusation being circulated that I influenced the scientists to change their minds by bribing them with millions of dollars in grant money is absolutely false, and simply preposterous,” Fauci said, noting he had no input into the content on a paper published in March 2020 that discussed the possible origins of the virus."

 

(more)

 

https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/03/politics/fauci-testimony-house-hearing-covid-19/index.html

 

Edited June 3 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

GOP subcommittee chair and ranking member wrap up hearing with closing statements

"In his closing statement, Ranking Member Raul Ruiz thanked Dr. Anthony Fauci for his testimony and for his decades of service to the nation in dealing with various epidemics and pandemics.

 

He also blasted Republicans for pushing extreme narratives for political gain.

...

Ruiz added that the evidence found that "Dr. Fauci did not fund research through the EcoHealth Alliance Grant that caused the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr. Fauci did not lie about gain of function research in Wuhan China, Dr. Fauci did not orchestrate a campaign to suppress the lab-leak theory."

 

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/anthony-fauci-covid-origins-hearing-06-03-24/index.html

 

Edited June 3 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

 

Fauci Grilled by Lawmakers on Masks, Vaccine Mandates and Lab Leak Theory

Dr. Fauci testified before a House panel investigating Covid’s origins. The panel found emails suggesting that his aides were skirting public records laws.

...

But the House panel rarely lingered over evidence that concerned the origins of the coronavirus, or responsibility for its brutal toll in the United States. Lawmakers never pressed Dr. Fauci over his reassurances early in 2020 that Americans needed not worry about the virus, which was then sweeping the globe.

...

And for all the hundreds of thousands of pages of documents and more than 100 hours of closed-door testimony that the panel reviewed, lawmakers produced nothing on Monday linking Dr. Fauci to the beginnings of the Covid outbreak in China...."

 

(more)

 

New York Times

https://archive.ph/Q2NKi

 

or

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/03/science/fauci-hearing-covid-origins.html

 

 

[Robert Paulson]

The people who do the most lying are the most protected. 

[Red Phoenix]

The face and faux hero of the Covid-measures is currently facing backlash for the outrageous made-up lies he peddled as 'settled science'.  Hang him high! 

[stevenl]

8 minutes ago, Red Phoenix said:

The face and faux hero of the Covid-measures is currently facing backlash for the outrageous made-up lies he peddled as 'settled science'.  Hang him high! 

"Every time Sen. Rand Paul gets up and says I’m responsible for the death of 4 million people, the death threats go up off the wall".

[Bkk Brian]

MTG going full whack job on this, refuses to call him a doctor and does not let him address her wild accusations. A total farce from what should have been an opportunity to discuss the issues.

 

JUST IN: Marjorie Taylor Greene calls for the imprisonment of 'Mr.' Fauci to his face as she cites a new report where NIH scientists made over $700 million on cov*d royalties.

"NIH scientists made $710 million in royalties from drug makers. A fact that's been hidden."

"Is it right for scientists and doctors getting paid by the American people, government taxpayer paychecks to get patents where they're paid millions and hundreds of millions of dollars in royalty fees?"

"Do you think that's appropriate? Do the American people deserve to be abused like that? Mr. Fauci? 'cause you're not Doctor, you're Mr. Fauci."

"That man does not deserve to have a license. As a matter of fact, it should be revoked and he belongs in prison."

 

GOP chair reprimands Greene for refusing to call Fauci ‘doctor’

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) was reprimanded by Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio), the chair of the House Oversight and Accountability Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, for refusing to recognize Anthony Fauci as a doctor while questioning him.

Fauci, who became the face of the administration’s COVID-19 response while serving as head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testified before the GOP-led committee on Monday for the first time since retiring.

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4700580-greene-fauci-doctor-reprimand/

[Bkk Brian]

2 hours ago, Red Phoenix said:

 

 

 

Whatever, I am just saying she was a complete and utter loon tune, that's not how to behave in a congressional meeting. Like I said, she missed an opportunity for an adult discussion rather than a complete one sided rant.

 

Edited June 4 by stats
quote of hidden post removed

[Robert Paulson]

They get paid on a per lie basis. Because each lie makes someone else money, and costs us. 

[Bkk Brian]

2 hours ago, Red Phoenix said:

 

 

If its not possible to have adult discussions with proven liars even if he was then here would be no judges, lawyers or solicitors in the world, let alone juries. Stop being so ridiculous. Shows just how out of touch you really are.

 

Edited June 4 by stats
quote of hidden post removed

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

The source that MTG appears to be citing (NY Post) doesn't actually say anything about Fauci himself receiving any the cited funds, or how much he may have received. It merely talks about money going NIH scientists as a group.

 

It also is an article listed as an opinion piece, not a news report.

 

https://nypost.com/2024/06/02/opinion/nih-scientists-made-710m-in-royalties-from-drug-makers-a-fact-they-tried-to-hide/

 

But that nothwithstanding, it also fails to reflect the following:

 

Some Posts About NIH Royalties Omit Fauci Statement That He Donates His Payments

May 20, 2022

 

"A nonprofit recently reported that, since 2009, the National Institutes of Health and many of its scientists received an estimated $350 million in royalties for developing experimental treatments. Some kept the money, but Dr. Anthony Fauci has said that he donates royalties he receives to charity — a detail left out of some online posts about the payments."

 

...

But the post on OpenTheBooks.com, which is titled “Fauci’s Royalties And The $350 Million Royalty Payment Stream HIDDEN By NIH,” never mentioned that Fauci has said he donates his royalties to charity. (That piece of information is mentioned in a separate fact sheet about the group’s investigation.)

...

We are not able to confirm whether Fauci donated his past royalty payments as he said, nor did the NIH or NIAID say what Fauci’s practices are now.

 

https://www.factcheck.org/2022/05/scicheck-some-posts-about-nih-royalties-omit-that-fauci-said-he-donates-his-payments/

 

 

Edited June 4 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[Red Phoenix]

32 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

If its not possible to have adult discussions with proven liars even if he was then here would be no judges, lawyers or solicitors in the world, let alone juries. Stop being so ridiculous. Shows just how out of touch you really are.

I would have phrased her totally correct accusations differently re the 700 million US $ royalties with which NIH management enriched themselves.  But I can understand her outrage and contempt for these vile 'public servants' and glad that she doesn't show him the respect as he clearly does not deserve it and belongs in jail for betraying the public. 

 

Edited June 4 by Red Phoenix

[Bkk Brian]

Just now, Red Phoenix said:

I would have phrased her totally correct accusations re the 700 million US $ royalties with which NIH management enriched themselves.  But I can understand her outrage and contempt for these vile 'public servants' and glad that she doesn't show him the respect as he clearly does not deserve it and belongs in jail for betraying the public. 

 

But I can understand her outrage and contempt for these vile 'public servants' and glad that she doesn't show him the respect

 

But I expect nothing else from you. Why do you think I replied with this 

 

10 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Stop being so ridiculous. Shows just how out of touch you really are.

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

The six-foot rule comes up again

The GOP has repeatedly pressed Fauci about the six-foot distance recommendation imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

Earlier on Monday, Fauci explained that the six-foot rule came from the CDC.

 

Rep Joyce asked, “what was your relationship with the CDC when you saw a regulation that was not based in the current science?”

Fauci clarified that there wasn’t a clinical trial that concluded that six feet was more effective than three or 10 feet."

 

https://www.yahoo.com/news/anthony-fauci-faces-congressional-grilling-141325329.html

 

 

 

[Robert Paulson]

Fauci made 5 million during the pandemic. 
https://www.yahoo.com/news/fauci-net-worth-nearly-doubled-154225312.html
 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

4 hours ago, Robert Paulson said:

Fauci made 5 million during the pandemic. 
https://www.yahoo.com/news/fauci-net-worth-nearly-doubled-154225312.html
 

 

"The majority wealth increase enjoyed by Fauci and his wife, chief bio-ethicist at the National Institutes of Health, Christine Grady, came from investment gains, gifts and awards, and federal employment compensation, according to the records."

 

No mention whatsoever of NIH royalties.

 

[Red Phoenix]

For the record > Fauci nor Collins were in charge of the covid policy, they are just puppets for the public.  Evil puppets yes, but nevertheless puppets.

It's the National Security Council who need to be brought in for questioning if real justice is sought.

The question they should be asking Fauci, but never will: Who was actually in charge, and why?

But we actually know the answer because on March 19, 2020 FEMA assumes the lead for the federal response to COVID-19, and as a result the pandemic response was effectively placed under the auspices of the Department of Homeland Security, which is the parent agency of FEMA.

[Amethyst]

Two posts altering the name of a public figure and several other posts making unsourced purported factual claims have been removed.

 

Per the the forum's rule:

 

"In factual areas such as news forums and current affairs topics member content that is claimed or portrayed as a fact should be supported by a link to a relevant reputable source."

 

 

[Robert Paulson]

It was all a clown show. A lot of people made a lot of money. It’s a great history lesson if people would actually pay attention. A lesson in what a populace should not do

 

or I really should say what a populace should not tolerate. Under any circumstances 

Edited June 4 by Robert Paulson

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

1 hour ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

Some Posts About NIH Royalties Omit Fauci Statement That He Donates His Payments

 

May 20, 2022

 

"A nonprofit recently reported that, since 2009, the National Institutes of Health and many of its scientists received an estimated $350 million in royalties for developing experimental treatments. Some kept the money, but Dr. Anthony Fauci has said that he donates royalties he receives to charity — a detail left out of some online posts about the payments."

 

Fauci testified during Monday's hearing that he’s made “zero” dollars in pandemic royalties:

Fauci Testimony Turns Chaotic: ‘Most Insane Hearing I’ve Attended’

...

"Whenever Fauci was actually allowed to respond to questions from Republican lawmakers, he took the opportunity to push back on many of the conspiracies about his role in the pandemic. 

 

When asked if he received any royalties from Big Pharma since 2021, Fauci responded that he’s made “zero” dollars in pandemic royalties. “I got $122 for a monoclonal antibody I created 27 years ago,” Fauci added, clarifying that the decades-old research was unrelated to the pandemic. "

 

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/fauci-testimony-turns-chaotic-republicans-conspiracies-1235031827/

 

House Republicans’ Attempts to Attack Fauci Go Wildly Off Rails

The House GOP struggled to find things to blame on Anthony Fauci.

...

"In another embarrassing instance, New York Representative Nicole Malliotakis tried—and failed—to implicate the infectious diseases expert in a popular conspiracy theory, including that he had received royalties from pharmaceutical companies for coronavirus-related medications and vaccines.

 

“How much have you earned in royalties from pharmaceutical companies since the pandemic began in 2021?” asked Malliotakis.

“Zero,” replied Fauci."

 

AND

 

"The New York Republican then proceeded to read a headline in front of her, citing that an “NIH scientist had made $710 million from drugmakers.” “You’re saying that you did not receive any of the $710 million?” she pressed.

 

Fauci knew exactly how much he had made: just $122 for a somewhat unrelated monoclonal antibody that he had patented decades prior."

 

https://newrepublic.com/post/182187/house-republicans-attack-fauci-covid-hearing

 

 

Edited June 4 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Fauci pushes back partisan attacks in fiery House hearing over COVID origins and controversies

...

A GOP-led subcommittee has spent over a year probing the nation’s response to the pandemic and whether U.S.-funded research in China may have played any role in how it started — yet found no evidence linking Fauci to wrongdoing. [emphasis added]

 

He’d already been grilled behind closed doors, for 14 hours over two days in January. But Monday, Fauci testified voluntarily in public and on camera at a hearing that quickly deteriorated into partisan attacks.

 

Republicans repeated unproven accusations against the longtime National Institutes of Health scientist while Democrats apologized for Congress besmirching his name and bemoaned a missed opportunity to prepare for the next scary outbreak.

 

(more)

 

https://apnews.com/article/fauci-covid-pandemic-origin-congress-a66625482f25824476ee315484790230

 

[xylophone]

"Subcommittee members also found nothing to suggest he "orchestrate[d] a campaign to suppress the lab leak theory ... After 15 months, the Select Subcommittee still does not possess a shred of evidence to substantiate these extreme allegations that Republicans have levied against Dr. Fauci for nearly 4 years," Ruiz said".

 

https://www.medpagetoday.com/washington-watch/washington-watch/110460

 

A REAL witch hunt and that nutjob MTG also chimed in with her nonsense. Republican politics at its worst, and some.