LISTEN HERE:
Ohio House Judiciary Committee leader Jim Jordan has declared that the GOP is actively constructing a case in opposition to Anthony Fauci, who was previously in charge of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
This came to light during a conversation with notable conservative broadcaster Benny Johnson. The contention revolves around Fauci’s previous assertions that he had no knowledge concerning the funding of gain-of-function research that has raised eyebrows among some conservatives.
Johnson pointedly remarked in the course of the dialogue that it is unequivocally evident that Fauci was not truthful in his statements. He then brought up the existence of the 18 U.S. Code 1001, a rule stating that presenting dishonest statements to Congress carries the potential of incarceration for the responsible individual.
His conversation with Jordan explored the potential strategies that could be employed in this matter. However, any official recommendation would have to be fed through the current administration’s justice department, a fact that Jordan expressed concerns about. He expressed doubts about the chances of action from the Senate Judiciary Committee with the current party makeup.
Jordan did imply a potential committee referral may be feasible. He also mentioned his preference would be for bringing Dr. Fauci back for an additional round of questioning. He gave a nod to previous testimonies, including the one given by Dr. Redfield and Chairman Wenstrup, as building blocks in this case.
Dr. Fauci meanwhile, has voiced his distress, claiming that the insistence of the GOP on pursuing his prosecution has resulted in dire personal threats against him. According to Fauci, every time someone indulges in spreading distortion or flat-out disinformation about his conduct, it inevitably leads to threats of harm directed toward him and his family.
In Fauci’s perspective, it’s not just the incessant threats but the sheer absurdity of the accusations that are exhausting. However, it does cast a considerable negative impact when the baseless allegations start influencing people, leading to them target him and his family.
In the aftermath of Fauci’s retirement at the end of last year, Kentucky-based Republican Senator Rand Paul had some harsh words. Those came during an interview wherein Fauci insisted that he had no regrets concerning his handling of the pandemic and was pressed to reflect on the pandemic’s handling and outline any changes he would make if given the chance.
Senator Paul was conspicuously brutal in his assessment of Dr. Fauci. Paul made the explicit claim that no other public health figure may have committed a more significant lapse in judgment than Fauci. He attributed this alleged lapse to Fauci’s decision to bankroll gain-of-function research in an authoritarian nation, which was a research program Paul suggests led to the creation and unintentional release of dangerous viruses that have been devastatingly deadly.
Firmly opposed to Fauci’s actions, Paul stated pointedly that he intends to refer the case against Fauci to the justice department under Biden’s administration. He elaborated on his stance in a discussion on Fox Business, although expressing pessimism about the likelihood of Fauci facing charges.
Despite referring him to the Department of Justice, Paul exhibits a lack of confidence in Attorney General Merrick Garland’s objectivity in reviewing the charges against Fauci. He went on to underscore his firm belief that Fauci ought to face imprisonment for a sizeable five-year period for his claimed deception to Congress.
Texas-based Republican Senator Ted Cruz echoed similar sentiments, stating that under any coherent legal framework, Fauci should be facing criminal charges. He has been clear in his belief that Fauci’s missteps have heavily eroded the trust in the scientific and medical community in a remarkable and disconcerting manner.
Cruz further elaborated that there should absolutely be repercussions for this level of deception. In his view, any well-functioning system would perceive this as a violation of oath and consequently pursue legal action, further implying that jail time should be a real possibility.
In summary, the controversy around Anthony Fauci’s past declarations and his role in the funding of gain-of-function research continues. Involved figures like Jim Jordan, Benny Johnson, Rand Paul, and Ted Cruz have raised substantial concerns, indicating that this intricate web of allegations and counter-claims is far from concluded.
