Following recent allegations that Dr. Anthony Fauci lied about "gain-of-function" research taking place in the lab in Wuhan, China, where the coronavirus is said to have originated, Republican Sen. Tom Cotton is calling for an investigation into the infectious diseases expert.
Related
Cotton called the situation "one of the biggest scandals in Washington," saying he wants Fauci to be prosecuted for lying. But, he isn't the only Senator to accuse Fauci of lying about what research took place in Wuhan.
Sen. Rand Paul also sparred with Fauci this summer over funding for the Wuhan Institute of Virology in multiple congressional hearings. When the documents were released, Paul shared that he wants Fauci to be removed from his position immediately because of his "poor judgment."
Cotton spoke with Fox News' Laura Ingraham about the situation and what he thinks should happen to Fauci, saying, "he should be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
"For 18 months, he's been saddling up his moral high horse and clucking his tongue at college kids who want to go celebrate a football game in an outdoor stadium on a nice full day, or parents who don't want their kindergarteners have to wear masks their entire lives, telling you you have to wear three masks, when all along he's been lying, not just to Congress, but to the American people about his role in funding the very reckless, dangerous research at a Chinese communist lab that unleashed this pandemic on the world," Cotton said.
He went on to say, "It is a disgrace. And it's time for Tony Fauci to be held accountable." Cotton also called the situation "one of the biggest scandals in Washington modern Times."
Cotton said that funding the laboratory is why millions have become seriously ill, kids have lost critical time in the classroom, weddings postponed, jobs lost, and businesses closed.
Paul said on said on Fox News' "Hannity" that he wants Fauci to be removed for what he says was a violation of public trust. He further accused Fauci of lying "dozens of times" to the American public.
"But not just that — the judgment that we should continue to fund this lab and that the virus in all likelihood came from the lab — I think it's such an incredibly poor judgment that he should be immediately removed," Paul said.
Related
The newly released documents contradicted Fauci's claims that the NIH did not fund gain-of-function in Wuhan. Gain-of-function involves increasing the transmissibility of a virus. This is done so that scientists can predict new diseases and develop vaccines and therapeutics to treat them.
Fauci has not commented on the new papers since their release last week. As of now, there is no plan to remove Fauci from his position.