Dr. Anthony Fauci is facing intense scrutiny from House Republicans at a hearing on Monday as lawmakers continue to scrutinize his response to the COVID-19 pandemic and examine theories of the origin of the virus.
Fauci previously proclaimed that he has “nothing to hide” and is coming before the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic voluntarily. It marks the first time he’s publicly testified since he left the federal government at the end of 2022 after five decades of service.
Fauci’s appearance on Capitol Hill comes amid a contentious election cycle, with Republicans continuing to hammer him on his response to the virus — everything from mask mandates to vaccine guidelines and origin possibilities.
“Americans were aggressively bullied, shamed and silenced for merely questioning or debating issues such as social distancing, masks, vaccines or the origins of COVID,” chairman Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio, said as the hearing kicked off. Wenstrup, who said he was seeking accountability in this hearing, accused Fauci of overseeing “one of the most invasive regimes of domestic policy the U.S. has ever seen.”
Fauci addressed those issues, and Republican attacks, in his opening statement, calling certain matters “seriously distorted.”
Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testifies during a House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic hearing on Capitol Hill, in Washington, DC, June 3, 2024.
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Fauci forcefully denied GOP accusations that he meddled in research about the pandemic’s origins, including claims that he tried to sway scientists away from concluding the virus came from a lab.
“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,” he said.
“The second issue is a false accusation that I tried to cover up the possibility that the virus originated from a lab. In fact, the truth is exactly the opposite,” he added, proceeding to read an email in which he encouraged scientists to report their data to authorities.
Democrats, led by ranking member Raul Ruiz, sought to focus on moving forward — and accused Republicans of using Fauci as a scapegoat for mistakes made during the early days of the pandemic by former President Donald Trump.
“After 15 months, the select subcommittee does not possess a shred of evidence to substantiate these extreme allegations Republicans have levied against Dr. Fauci for nearly four years,” Ruiz said.
Earlier Monday, coming to Fauci’s defense, Democrats on the panel announced the release of a staff report “debunking point by point Republicans’ dangerous narrative” regarding the nation’s former top infectious disease expert.
Rep. Raul Ruiz, joined by Rep. Jamie Raskin and Rep. Debbie Dingell, speaks at a press conference ahead of Dr. Fauci’s testimony before the House Select Subcommittee on the coronavirus pandemic at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, June 03, 2024.
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The latest attack on Fauci comes from Republicans on the subcommittee who cite “new evidence” they say warrants further scrutiny: an email exchange between a former Fauci senior adviser and an executive of a virus research organization where the adviser claims Fauci’s private Gmail account could be utilized to evade Freedom of Information Act and future public scrutiny. Ahead of the hearing, Republicans requested access to Fauci’s personal email account and cellphone records.
Fauci denied suggestions he used his private email, and both denounced and distanced himself from the adviser’s actions.
“Let me state for the record that to the best of my knowledge I have never conducted official business via my personal email,” Fauci said.
Dr. David Morens, the Fauci aide, advised EcoHealth Alliance President Peter Daszak that Fauci may accept printed copies of documents if Daszak didn’t want them tracked for the public record — although it’s not clear if Fauci ever had any involvement.
Records show that Morens himself used his private Gmail account to shield information from FOIA’s reach, including to send Daszak official government documents and a heads-up about information that would become public through a FOIA request pertaining to EcoHealth Alliance grant materials and COVID-19 research.
Dr. David Morens speaks during a House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic hearing on Capitol Hill on May 22, 2024 in Washington, DC.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images, FILE
EcoHealth Alliance is a U.S.-based organization — described as a “virus-hunting group” — that conducts research and outreach programs and global health, conservation and international development, according to its website.
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Republicans say the alliance facilitated gain-of-function research in Wuhan, China, without proper oversight; willingly violated multiple requirements of its multi-million dollar National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant; and, apparently, made false statements to the NIH.
The House select subcommittee released a report alleging wrongdoing there and the formal debarment of EcoHealth and Daszak. Health and Human Services has subsequently suspended U.S. funding to the organization, which totaled about $2.6 million last year.
Morens testified behind closed doors for transcribed interviews before the subcommittee on Jan 18., and later produced an additional 30,000 pages of documents pursuant to a subpoena before testifying publicly on May 22.
The panel subsequently released a staff memorandum it argues “presents overwhelming evidence” from Morens’s email revealing misconduct and potentially illegal actions. The memo included previously unreleased emails, obtained by subpoena, that Republicans believe incriminates Morens by showing he undermined the operations of the U.S. government, unlawfully deleted federal COVID-19 records and used personal email to avoid FOIA.
Chairman Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) speaks at a hearing with the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic on Capitol Hill on July 11, 2023 in Washington, DC.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images, FILE
Considering Morens was a close adviser to Fauci, Republicans on the subcommittee expressed concern that Fauci had knowledge of his conduct and questioned whether Fauci potentially engaged in any misconduct himself.
Fauci told lawmakers on Monday he “knew nothing” of Morens’ actions with Daszak or EcoHealth, and asserted Morens was not “an adviser to me on institute policy or other substantive issues.”
Fauci, 83, served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, serving as a scientific check to Trump during the pandemic and later as President Joe Biden’s chief medical advisor before retiring in 2022.
Fauci previously spoke out about the death threats he received due to his outsized and public role from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. On Monday, he said those threats continue and became emotional while answering questions about the impact on his family.
“It is very troublesome to me. It is much more troublesome because they’ve involved my wife and my three daughters,” he said, his voice beginning to waver.
“At this moment, how do you feel?” pushed Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell.
“Terrible,” Fauci replied.
On Tuesday, top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci faced tough questioning from Republican lawmakers during a hearing on the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and the U.S. response to the virus. The hearing, which took place before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, highlighted the ongoing debate surrounding the origins of the virus and the role of public health officials in managing the crisis.
Republicans on the committee grilled Fauci on a range of issues, including the origins of the virus, the effectiveness of public health measures, and the decision-making process behind lockdowns and other restrictions. Some lawmakers accused Fauci of downplaying the possibility that the virus originated in a Chinese lab, while others questioned his handling of the pandemic response.
One of the key points of contention during the hearing was the issue of gain-of-function research, which involves manipulating viruses in a lab to study their potential for causing disease in humans. Fauci has come under fire for his agency’s funding of research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which some believe may have played a role in the emergence of COVID-19.
Fauci defended his agency’s funding of research at the Wuhan lab, stating that it was part of an effort to better understand and prepare for emerging infectious diseases. He also reiterated his belief that the most likely origin of the virus was natural, likely originating in bats and then spreading to humans through an intermediate animal host.
Despite facing intense scrutiny from Republicans, Fauci remained steadfast in his defense of his agency’s actions and his own handling of the pandemic response. He emphasized the importance of following the science and relying on data-driven decision-making to combat the virus.
The hearing highlighted the deep political divide surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, with Republicans and Democrats offering starkly different perspectives on the origins of the virus and the appropriate response to the crisis. While Republicans criticized Fauci for his handling of the pandemic, Democrats praised his leadership and expertise in guiding the country through this unprecedented public health emergency.
As the debate over the origins of COVID-19 continues to unfold, it is clear that there are still many unanswered questions surrounding the virus and its impact on global health. While Republicans may have their doubts about Fauci’s leadership, it is important to remember that he is a respected expert in his field who has dedicated his career to protecting public health and saving lives. Ultimately, it will be up to scientists, researchers, and public health officials to work together to uncover the truth about the origins of COVID-19 and develop effective strategies for preventing future pandemics.
