House COVID hearing goes off the rails as Marjorie Taylor Greene attacks Dr. Fauci

A House Oversight Committee hearing on the COVID response and its origins descended into chaos on Monday as a number of Republican lawmakers attacked former White House chief medical officer Dr. Anthony Fauci.

Georgia state Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene went on the offensive during the testimony of Fauci, who retired in January 2022. She refused to call him “doctor” and brazenly declared that he should be put in prison for “crimes against humanity.”

Greene, who frequently rails against vaccinations and other precautions, began her questioning by accusing Fauci, as director of the National Institutes of Health, of authorizing medical experiments that amounted to “animal torture” even though he never held that position. Fauci served as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for 38 years.

“As a dog lover, I want to tell you that this is disgusting and evil,” Greene ranted, holding up pictures of dogs involved in experiments without providing any context. “The kind of science you are advocating, Mr. Fauci, is abhorrent! And it must stop.”

She then claimed that Fauci “made up” COVID guidelines like social distancing and mask wearing. He countered that the guidelines came from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and explained that they were put in place before it was known that the virus was airborne and not just spread through droplets.

Greene then asked how much money the NIH has received from pharmaceutical companies since the pandemic began, continuing to question his qualifications.

“Do the American people deserve to be abused like this, Mr. Fauci? Because you are not a ‘doctor.’ In my few minutes, you are Mr. Fauci,” she said. “No, I don’t need your answer.”

After Democrats in the committee objected, Greene persisted and accused Fauci of an unspecified crime.

“Yes, because in my day that man doesn’t deserve to be licensed!” Greene yelled. “In fact, he should be disbarred and put in jail!”

During questioning by another congressman, Greene muttered that Fauci was “disrespected,” prompting Republican Rep. Brad Wenstrup (Ohio) to read the committee’s rules of etiquette and remind Greene to refer to Fauci as a doctor.

Another outburst occurred when several members of the panel called for Greene’s remarks to be removed from the transcript.

“You know what this committee should do? We should recommend that you be prosecuted. We should issue a criminal complaint because you should be prosecuted for crimes against humanity,” Greene fumed. “You belong in prison, Dr. Fauci!”

The epidemiologist spent a significant portion of the hearing denying that he had attempted to cover up evidence supporting the lab leak theory and instead supporting the theory of animal-to-human transmission of the virus.

“I have repeatedly stated that I am completely unbiased on either possibility and that if definitive evidence is available to confirm or refute either theory, I will readily accept it,” he said.

New York Rep. Nicole Malliotakis tried – and failed – to portray Fauci as a profiteer of the COVID vaccines.

“How much have you earned in royalties from pharmaceutical companies since the pandemic began in 2021?” the Republican asked.

“Zero,” he replied.

Malliotakis also accused Fauci and the CDC of “misinformation.”

“How many children were emotionally affected by the lack of social contact with their classmates?” she asked. “How many children became depressed and committed suicide? How many businesses had to close? How many livelihoods were destroyed? And now they claim that there is no scientific evidence for all of this.”

Elsewhere in the hearing, Fauci detailed the death threats and other harassment he and his family have continued to face since the COVID pandemic began.

Several Democrats apologized – and made witty remarks – about Fauci’s treatment during the hearing.

“Some of our colleagues in the United States House of Representatives seem to want to drag your name through the mud. They are treating you, Dr. Fauci, like a convicted felon,” said Maryland Representative Jamie Raskin.

“In fact, you probably wish they would treat you like a convicted felon – they treat convicted felons with love and admiration,” he added, alluding to the recent conviction of Donald Trump. “Some of them blindly worship convicted felons.”