Sens. Ted Cruz and Rand Paul questioned Fauci about gain from function research
Dr. Anthony Fauci escalated the spat with some legislators over the nation’s COVID-19 reaction by claiming that they oppose ” Science.”
Fauci has been the face of the government’s pandemic response. This has put him in conflict with lawmakers who continue to be critical of that response. Rand Paul (R-Kt.) has often fought Fauci over the various statements and policies that Fauci’s chief medical advisor has made or endorsed.
Rand recently blasted Fauci ” obfuscating” regarding the National Institute of Health funding gain of function research. After the organization acknowledged in a letter to James Comer (Republican from Kentucky), that was indeed a “limited experiment”, Rand said so.
During an interview, Fauci dismissed opposition from such lawmakers as “noise,” claiming they are “really criticizing science.”
Fauci stated that anyone who looks at the picture carefully will see that there is an anti-science flavor. If they criticize science, no one’s going to be able to understand what they are talking about. “But if they stand up and aim their guns at Tony Fauci, people will recognize there is a person there. It’s easy to criticize but they are really criticizing science since I represent science.
Fauci’s claims were addressed by Paul on Twitter on Sunday morning. Paul called it “absolute hubris” that Fauci claimed he represented science.
Rand wrote, “It is astonishing and alarming that such a public health bureaucrat would even consider claiming such a thing.
Fauci also rejected a suggestion by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) that he be prosecuted for his comments regarding the gain of function research. Cruz tweeted “It’s illegal to knowingly lie to Congress. So I asked AG Garland to appoint an investigator to investigate Fauci.”
Fauci laughed at the suggestion and asked “What happened January 6th?” Fauci laughed at the suggestion and asked “What happened on January 6th, senator?”
