Dr. Anthony Fauci's attorney has responded to comments made by NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who called the former White House chief medical adviser an "absolute criminal" and an "absolute coward." The public exchange follows Fauci's invocation of the Fifth Amendment over 100 times during a Senate hearing.
David Schertler, Fauci's lawyer, stated, "Aaron Rodgers doesn't know what he's talking about. He should stick to football." The remarks came after Rodgers, a vocal critic of COVID-19 protocols, criticized Fauci during an appearance on ESPN.
During the broadcast, Rodgers used Fauci's decision to plead the Fifth Amendment when questioned by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee as the basis for his critique. Rodgers also suggested that the COVID-19 pandemic originated from a lab in China, a claim that remains under investigation and is not definitively established.
Rodgers has been a polarizing figure throughout the pandemic, often expressing skepticism about vaccine efficacy and COVID-19 protocols. Fauci, who served as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was a prominent public health official throughout the pandemic, frequently addressing the nation on the virus and vaccination efforts.
The Senate hearing focused on the origins of COVID-19 and the government's response. Fauci's repeated use of his constitutional right against self-incrimination during the proceedings drew criticism from some lawmakers and commentators.