Fauci, 83, has continued facing criticisms from Republicans over allegations his department funded Chinese research into coronaviruses, including COVID-19, which killed tens of thousands of people at home and abroad during a pandemic that lasted from early 2020 until about two years later.
In January, he made some startling admissions during closed-door testimony before a House committee last week, likely adding fuel to efforts led by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and other GOP leaders to hold him accountable.
At the time, The Federalist reported he “faced tough questions from the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, and his answers confirmed many of the worst fears of those in the medical community who spoke out during his reign of terror.”
The outlet noted further that although Fauci’s 14 hours’ worth of testimony took place in private, “the subcommittee provided an overview of the most salient points” while also promising to make a full transcript of his remarks public soon.
That said, the committee highlighted three of the most notable statements as well as how they should be addressed in the future.
“First, Fauci admitted that Covid-19 policies were not grounded in science, confessing that the six feet of social distancing, ‘sort of just appeared.’ Anyone who was ordered to stand an arbitrary distance apart on a jet bridge only to be packed into a plane face to jowl had reached this commonsense conclusion long ago,” The Federalist reported.
Nevertheless, it was a big reversal for Fauci, who repeatedly assured Americans during the pandemic that he was “following the science,” the report noted further, adding that the admission was also reminiscent of his “walk back” on the efficacy of wearing masks earlier this year.
“During his congressional testimony, Fauci finally conceded that Covid vaccine mandates could make people more broadly vaccine-hesitant,” The Federalist noted further, bringing up the second major admission. “Using the levers of government to force citizens to take an untested vaccine rushed to market under the banner of ‘warp speed’ was never a wise idea. Accusing dissenters of ‘spreading misinformation’ and subjecting them to loss of livelihood and mass ridicule compounded the error.”
The Federalist also reported:
Lastly, Fauci still refuses to accept accountability for his mistakes. He said he’s still “not convinced” lockdowns hurt kids, despite children suffering an “unprecedented drop in performance” in math and reading scores. According to the federal government, reading test scores among nine-year-olds fell to their lowest point in 30 years, while math scores fell for the first time ever. No one expects perfection from their leaders, but the stubborn refusal to look in the mirror and take responsibility is more than just arrogant — it’s harmful for the ability to fix the problem.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has regularly accused Fauci of lying to Congress about providing gain-of-function funding to a lab in Wuhan, China, and has called on him to be prosecuted.