Anthony Fauci's attorney, Jonathan Fahey, has advised NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers to "stick to football" after Rodgers publicly criticized the former White House COVID-19 advisor. The remarks from Rodgers came after Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment 111 times during a U.S. Senate hearing.
Rodgers, speaking on "The Pat McAfee Show," called Fauci an "absolute coward" for refusing to answer questions before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The committee, chaired by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., questioned Fauci regarding his pandemic response and policy decisions. Rodgers specifically referenced allegations of Fauci funding gain-of-function research in Wuhan, China, and suggested Fauci was hiding information.
"Are you kidding me? You get a pardon and you’re and you pleaded over 100 times at the White House? What are you scared of, Tony? I thought you were the science. ‘I am science,’ and you get up there and can’t answer a question? What are we doing?" Rodgers stated during the show.
He further commented, "Spending the entire time writing in his diary about how fun it is to be famous. You gotta be kidding me. What are you going to say about me now? Seriously, what are they going to say about me now? Now, you can’t talk about the COVID stuff because obviously it was made in a lab in China."
In response to Rodgers' criticism, Fauci's attorney, David Schertler, told The Athletic, "Aaron Rodgers doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He should stick to football."
Fauci, who served as chief medical adviser to both President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden during the pandemic, asserted his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination throughout the hearing. The questions posed by the committee focused on his role and decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A spokesperson for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Burt Lauten, stated that the team acknowledges differing perspectives on cultural and political topics and respects players' rights to their own views. "Discussions around culture and politics can bring differing perspectives, and our players are entitled to their own personal views. With respect to that, I am certain there are a variety of opinions on many topics within our locker room," Lauten said.
Fauci's invocation of the Fifth Amendment has drawn public attention and criticism, particularly given his prominent role as a public health official during the pandemic. Rodgers himself has previously been a subject of scrutiny, notably for his statements about his COVID-19 vaccination status. Rodgers recently indicated that the current NFL season would be his last.