Senator Bernie Moreno, a Republican from Ohio, strongly criticized Dr. Anthony Fauci during a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing on Wednesday, using explicit language to express his discontent.
Moreno called Fauci a "total disgrace" and recounted being compelled to run for office six years prior after witnessing a news report about a mother's arrest for watching a football game outdoors with her family, a restriction enacted based on government guidelines influenced by Fauci's advice.
"Who the f--k do you think you were for doing that?" Moreno asked. "It was a total disgrace to this country, and if my Democrat colleagues are standing there defending you, I hope the voters of the United States of America have watched clips of every one of them building of a guy who was more interested in being a celebrity, than doing his job leading the country through the pandemic."
At the start of his remarks, Moreno asked audience members who felt negatively impacted by COVID-19 precautions to stand. A significant portion of the public present rose to their feet.
Fauci's personal diaries were released earlier this week by Senator Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, who had again summoned Fauci to testify before the committee. The diaries reportedly show Fauci relishing interactions with celebrities during the early COVID-19 pandemic.
During the hearing, Fauci declined to answer over 100 questions regarding the origins of COVID-19, invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. He repeatedly stated, "On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution."
In his opening statement, Fauci accused Paul of an "unhinged obsession" with him, citing Paul's calls for his prosecution, "repeated slanderous comments," and the public release of his unredacted personal diary intended to "embarrass and intimidate" him. Fauci asserted that Paul's sole reason for summoning him was to elicit a statement that would vindicate his public vows to see Fauci "behind bars."
An exchange escalated when Fauci's attorney, David Schertler, attempted to speak on his behalf and was removed by security after Senator Paul stated he had not invited the attorney to testify.
Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, questioned Fauci about allegations of using federal employees and resources to apply for awards recognizing his pandemic work. Hawley contended that Fauci did not have Fifth Amendment rights in this context, citing Supreme Court precedent regarding pardons.
Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, read a statement from Fauci's attorney that characterized Paul's hearing as not a "serious effort to seek information" and accused the Republican senator of building a "personal brand" around prosecuting Fauci. Paul responded by arguing that an attorney cannot testify on behalf of a witness who invokes the Fifth Amendment.