(WASHINGTON, DC) – In a tense session on Capitol Hill, Dr. Anthony Fauci faced fierce questioning from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and other members of Congress over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The session, which took place on June 3, saw Dr. Fauci defending the measures he advocated for during the pandemic, while also addressing allegations of hypocrisy and mismanagement.
Rep. Greene presented photos purportedly showing Dr. Fauci without a mask and not adhering to social distancing guidelines, arguing that while Americans were forced to stay at home and adhere to strict measures, Fauci himself did not follow the same rules. Greene’s argument highlighted a perceived double standard that she labeled as “appalling” and claimed undermined public trust in health guidelines.
During his testimony, Dr. Fauci acknowledged that the six-foot social distancing guideline and other restrictions were not based on solid scientific evidence but were intended to protect the public. He admitted to the US House select subcommittee on the Coronavirus pandemic that these measures had limited impact on controlling the virus’s spread. The Republicans released the full transcript of their interview with Fauci just before his public testimony, where he also discussed the lab leak theory and mask mandates.
Fauci’s statement that the efficacy of masking children is still “up in the air” despite numerous studies on the topic drew sharp criticism. He admitted that he had not kept up with research on the effects of mandatory mask-wearing on children, a point that added to the scrutiny he faced.
The session also brought to light allegations against Fauci’s former top aide, Dr. David Morens, who reportedly used personal email for work to avoid government transparency laws. Emails revealed that Morens boasted about his ability to delete official correspondence and claimed to have a “secret back channel” to communicate with Fauci, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.
Moreover, Fauci disclosed that he “never” reviewed the grants he approved, which sometimes amounted to millions of taxpayer dollars. This admission included funds directed to foreign laboratories like the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), which was researching coronaviruses with US taxpayer dollars at the pandemic’s onset.
Rep. Brad Wenstrup of Ohio, chairman of the committee, expressed shock at these revelations and demanded Fauci hand over his personal email and phone records. The hearing also touched on the adverse effects of social distancing and mask mandates on mental health and education, citing studies from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that linked these measures to depression, anxiety, and negative impacts on student literacy and learning.
As the questioning of Dr. Fauci continues, the committee aims to further investigate the alleged covert communications and potential conflicts of interest involving his staff. The session has sparked a renewed debate on the transparency and efficacy of the pandemic response measures, with critics arguing that the inconsistencies and double standards exhibited by officials like Fauci have eroded public trust.
This current hearing underscores the ongoing controversy surrounding the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the importance of accountability in public health leadership. You can watch live on public news channels.
