Nebraska Lawmakers Slam Fauci Over Response During Senate Hearing
by John Gage
(Picture credit National Institutes of Health)
Nebraska lawmakers took aim at Dr. Anthony Fauci over his decision to plead his Fifth Amendment rights during a hearing on Wednesday in front of the Senate’s Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
“Although it pains me to do so, because of the respect I have for the legislative branch of government, and my decades-long record of cooperating with Congress, under the advice of my attorneys, I will invoke my right under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution to refrain from answering your questions,” Fauci said.
Fauci went on to plead the 5th over 100 times during the hearing. Nebraska lawmakers were not impressed with the response.
“Dr. Fauci’s failed leadership damaged the American people’s trust in our institutions,” Senator Pete Ricketts said in a statement on Thursday. “He had the opportunity to share the truth and take accountability but refused. His selfish silence is a disgrace to National Institutes of Health.”
Congressman Don Bacon told The Plains Sentinel that he was disappointed in Fauci’s responses, or lack thereof, during the hearing.
“It was very disappointing that Fauci pleaded the Fifth 111 times,” Bacon said. “Americans want answers as to why the COVID response was so terribly handled. He may have been pardoned for all actions in the past, so he should have zero problems testifying to the truth.”
Ricketts, in a statement, also criticized Fauci over his “Soviet-style” handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Fauci’s mishandling of Covid was terrible for America. While millions of Americans suffered, Anthony Fauci was concerned with increasing his celebrity status,” he said. “When I was Governor, we refused to give in to Dr. Fauci’s hysteria campaign and Soviet-style mandates.”
Ricketts added that Americans “deserve answers” from Fauci over his “horrible” policy recommendation.
Fauci has come under scrutiny after his diary from during his time leading the pandemic effort became public earlier this week. The diary showed some inconsistencies between Fauci’s public messaging and his private thoughts. on the COVID-19 pandemic.
The immunologist was called in front of the Senate Committee chaired by Senator Rand Paul, who vowed to respond to Fauci’s silence.
“It’s against the law to obstruct an investigation of Congress,” Paul said. “There will be repercussions for your refusal to testify”
— John Gage is the executive editor of The Plains Sentinel.