Former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard accused Dr. Anthony Fauci of avoiding accountability after he declined to answer questions during testimony examining the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard sharply criticized Dr. Anthony Fauci on Wednesday after the former federal health official repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment rights while testifying before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Fauci reportedly invoked the constitutional protection against self-incrimination approximately 111 times during the hearing, declining to answer questions concerning his actions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Fauci’s ‘performance’ today made me sick,” Gabbard wrote on X. “Smug arrogance. Zero remorse. Zero accountability. He refused to answer a single question.”
Gabbard continued by accusing Fauci of using federal money to support coronavirus research in Wuhan, China, and working with members of the intelligence community to conceal information about the origins of the pandemic.
“Sharing this again as a reminder: He used your tax dollars to fund the coronavirus lab research in Wuhan—and worked with the IC to cover it up. We deserve the truth and accountability,” she wrote.
Gabbard’s final day as director of national intelligence was June 19. Her remarks referred to a video she released the previous month announcing the disclosure of communications that she said showed Fauci coordinating with intelligence officials to silence whistleblowers, suppress discussion of a possible laboratory origin for COVID-19 and conceal funding for dangerous gain-of-function research.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, closed Wednesday’s hearing by saying the committee would consider a motion addressing whether Fauci should face consequences for invoking the Fifth Amendment while appearing under subpoena.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., separately called on governors and state attorneys general to consider bringing their own cases against Fauci.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier subsequently announced that his office would open an investigation.
The hearing also renewed attention on former President Joe Biden’s preemptive pardon of Fauci and whether it could be challenged because of questions surrounding Biden’s use of an autopen.
Asked whether he would reopen an investigation into the pardon, President Donald Trump said he would “respect” Biden’s action.
Original article
Comments