Ohio Republican Senator Bernie Moreno unleashed a fiery critique of Dr. Anthony Fauci during a Capitol Hill hearing Wednesday, calling the former chief medical advisor a "total disgrace" as Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment over 100 times in response to questioning.
The hearing focused on the origins of COVID-19, and Moreno's remarks came after Fauci repeatedly stated, "On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution." Fauci's attorney was also removed from the hearing room by security when he attempted to intervene on his client's behalf.
Moreno stated that his decision to enter politics stemmed from witnessing a mother's arrest for violating COVID-19 guidelines, which he attributed to advice based on Fauci's recommendations. "Who the f**k do you think you were for doing that? It was a total disgrace to this country," Moreno exclaimed during his remarks. He suggested that any Democratic colleagues defending Fauci should be held accountable by voters, characterizing Fauci as more interested in celebrity than in his job.
During the hearing, Senator Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican who had called Fauci to testify, accused him of having an "unhinged obsession" with him. Fauci, in turn, accused Paul of the same, stating the senator's motivation was to elicit a statement that could vindicate Paul's public desire to see Fauci imprisoned. Paul, who released Fauci's personal diaries earlier in the week, has indicated he plans to hold a committee vote on holding Fauci in contempt of Congress.
Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley questioned Fauci about allegations that he used federal employees and resources to apply for awards during the pandemic, seeking personal financial gain. Fauci also invoked the Fifth Amendment in response to these questions. Hawley argued that Fauci, if pardoned, might not have the right to plead the Fifth Amendment, citing legal precedent.
Approximately 111 Fifth Amendment pleas were made by Fauci throughout the proceedings. The hearing also saw members of the audience who identified as being negatively impacted by skepticism toward COVID-19 precautions stand up at Moreno's request.
Fauci, who previously served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and as chief medical advisor to President Joe Biden, gained significant public recognition during the COVID-19 pandemic.