Sen. Rand Paul escalated his months-long feud with Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, on Tuesday, accusing him of lying to Congress about whether the National Institutes of Health-funded gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, setting off an enraged shouting match.
“On May 11, you indicated that the NIH has never funded gain-of-function research in the Wuhan Institute of Virology and does not do so today,” Paul replied. He stated that gain-of-function research was conducted in the lab and pointed to an academic paper written by a Chinese scientist, which he then requested to be placed into the record and a copy sent to Fauci.
Paul’s idea was categorically rejected by Fauci.
“I have never lied to the Congress, Senator Paul.” “And I make no apologies for that statement,” he continued.
Paul speculated that Fauci and the NIH were partly to blame for the epidemic and the deaths of 4 million people throughout the world.
When Paul intervened, the virology specialist clarified that the study Paul cited did not reflect gain-of-function research, and a screaming fight followed.
“Give me a chance to finish!” When Paul tried to intervene, Fauci said. “Quite simply, Senator Paul, you have no idea what you’re talking about. And I’d want to state unequivocally that you have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Paul, on the other hand, would not be convinced.
“You’re dancing around this because you’re trying to avoid accountability for four million people dying from a pandemic all around you,” Paul explained.
Senator Patty Murray, D-Washington, chaired the Senate Health Committee at that moment and urged Paul to stop interrupting Fauci’s testimony.
“You’re plainly obfuscating the truth,” Paul interjected, to which Fauci said, “I’m not obfuscating the truth — you are.”
“You’re insinuating that our actions resulted in the deaths of persons.” “I abhor it,” Fauci expressed his displeasure.
“It might have been,” Paul interjected.
Senator, if anyone is lying here, it’s you,” Fauci said, pointing his finger at Paul.
Sen. Tina Smith, D-New Mexico, was the next legislator up, and she gave Fauci the opportunity to “counteract these attacks on your integrity that we’ve all just watched.”
“I have never lied to Congress.” I’ve never lied, especially not in front of Congress. “The case is closed,” Fauci stated.