U.S. News
Fauci and Rand Paul accuse each other of lying before Congress
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) accused Dr. Anthony Fauci of lying when he denied that NIAID funded a “gain of function” lab research in Wuhan, China.
- Fauci pointed out that Paul cited a study referencing an entirely different virus and that the paper was not a gain of function.
- Fauci added that he had never lied before Congress and that the senator had always been doing such accusatory actions “based on no reality.”
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert, clashed with Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) once again during Tuesday’s congressional hearing on the coronavirus pandemic.
The debate was whether the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded a “gain of function” lab research in Wuhan, China, a process that enhances a virus to study its potential impact in the real world.
The senator suggested that the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases had lied before Congress when he denied it back in May.
Paul asked, “Dr Fauci, knowing it is a crime to lie to Congress, do you wish to retract your statement of May 11 where you claimed that the NIH never funded gain of function research in Wuhan?”
Fauci fired back, “Senator Paul, I have never lied before the Congress and I do not retract that statement.”
He then pointed out that Paul cited a study referencing a different sort of virus entirely from the one responsible for the coronavirus pandemic. “This paper that you are referring to was judged by qualified staff up and down the chain as not being gain of function,” Fauci added.
Paul kept interrupting Fauci while the latter insisted “Let me finish,” but the senator kept talking over him.
An exasperated Fauci then remarked, “Senator Paul, you do not know what you’re talking about, quite frankly. And I want to say that officially. You do not know what you are talking about.”
As the committee chairperson struggled to retain control, Fauci concluded, “If anybody is lying here, senator, it is you.”
Critics believe that Paul is simply grandstanding for the right-wing audience, who has targeted Fauci as a sort of boogeyman.
Back in late May, President Biden called for the investigation of the virus origins and to report within 90 days. Currently, the most prevalent theory is that it originated in animals, possibly bats, and was passed on to humans.
Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) seemingly sided with Fauci when she asked him if he would like to “counteract these attacks on your integrity that we’ve all just witnessed.”
Fauci concluded: “This is a pattern that Senator Paul has been doing now at multiple hearings based on no reality. He was talking about gain of function, this has been evaluated multiple times by qualified people to not fall under the gain of function definition. I have not lied before Congress. I have never lied. Certainly not before Congress. Case closed.”
Source: The Guardian
James S Cribelar
July 21, 2021 at 12:31 pm
They need to build a special ‘Hall of Shame’ for Biden. Biden is proving on a daily basis to be the absolute worst president in the history of our nation. He should be impeached and removed from his stolen office immediately for the salvation of what’s left of America.
Alan Hurst
July 22, 2021 at 8:52 am
Fauci has flip flopped so many times i cannot believe him at all any more?
Michele Westlund
July 22, 2021 at 10:18 am
Totally agree. I thought Fauci was a snake in the grass from the beginning!
Richard
July 22, 2021 at 8:56 am
Yeah Trump should of fired Fauci. Seeing as he didn’t. We the people of the United States of America fire you Fauci.
bonnie
July 22, 2021 at 9:18 am
all these comment are just repubican losser not the truth.
Michele Westlund
July 22, 2021 at 10:20 am
Hey Bonnie, What is the TRUTH exactly?
Loreta Bradley
July 22, 2021 at 11:58 am
Bonnie where have you been the last six months?
Anne Crabbs
July 22, 2021 at 11:55 am
I cannot imagine Dr. Fascinating thinking what he said is the truth. He is not anything but political and should do us a favor disclosing his financial interest in the Wuhan lab.
Loreta Bradley
July 22, 2021 at 11:58 am
Bonnie where have you been the last six months?
Bill
July 22, 2021 at 5:38 pm
Rand Paul’s LIMITED ( I repeat LIMITED) medical expertise is restricted to the study of eyes. When he attempts to challenge Dr. Fauci
, an acknowledged international expert on viruses and infectious diseases, he is TOTALLY beyond anything within his level of expertise. To be plainer, Rand Paul is simply making up political nonsense in an attempt to make himself and the GOP look good. Additionally, he is attempting to discredit the expert in the room, without having any expertise to do so. Total Showboating, and totally worthless. He is a shameful excuse for a proper representative (senator) for the people of his state and the people of America. His claims against the vaccines efficacy and that because he has had COVID-19 he can’t get it again are not only false but dangerously feeding our significant unvaccinated population. When are he and other like Republicans going to simply stand up, without politics and say “GET VACCINATED”