The contentious Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on COVID-19 origins and the government's pandemic response turned heated when Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio launched a verbal attack at Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Moreno, a first-term Republican, directed his anger at the 85-year-old former White House chief medical adviser, blaming him for lockdowns, masking rules, and school closures that he claims were based on Fauci's guidance.
The exchange took place during a GOP-led session chaired by Senator Rand Paul, who has been critical of Fauci for years and had hoped to hear an apology from him before considering a contempt vote.
Instead, Fauci repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, declining to answer questions about his role in shaping COVID-19 mitigation policies and whether he destroyed or directed others to destroy federal records.
Moreno pressed Fauci on his silence, handing him a pocket Constitution and demanding he explain what the Fifth Amendment says, noting that it was authored by James Madison.
At one point, Moreno asked audience members who had been affected by COVID-19 policies, such as being labeled racist for calling it the "China virus," fired for refusing vaccination, or opposed school closures, to stand.
Fauci refused to acknowledge the audience, keeping his gaze fixed on his lawyers as Moreno repeatedly asked him to apologize to those who had been impacted by his guidance.
In his opening statement, Fauci accused Senator Paul of having an "unhinged obsession" with prosecuting him.
Fauci also noted that former President Joe Biden had issued him a pre-emptive pardon for actions related to the federal COVID-19 response.
