NewsNation anchor Chris Cuomo defended Dr. Anthony Fauci following the former White House medical adviser’s contentious appearance before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, arguing that the criticism directed at Fauci was politically motivated rather than an effort to uncover the truth about the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fauci appeared before the committee earlier this week, where he repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination while declining to answer questions from Republican lawmakers.
During the hearing, Fauci invoked the constitutional protection more than 100 times as senators questioned him about the federal government’s response to the pandemic, the origins of COVID-19 and other related matters.
In a video released after the hearing, Cuomo forcefully defended Fauci and criticized Republicans for targeting the longtime infectious disease expert.
“I don’t know who needs to hear this but if you were forced by a situation where people were coming after you to plead the 5th and everything that comes with that, what would you be doing right now?” Cuomo said.
“I would be in the fetal position, or hiding. Tony Fauci is seeing patients. Why? Because he’s a real one. And because what they’re doing going after him, is bullsh*t and everybody knows it.”
Cuomo argued that those seeking answers about the pandemic were directing their frustrations at the wrong person.
“You want to find out who started Covid that’s great,” Cuomo said. “Are you saying Tony Fauci did? Are you saying America did? Then what are we talking about.”
The television host also suggested that criticism over pandemic restrictions should instead be aimed at elected officials who implemented those policies.
“If you didn’t like masks, if you didn’t like mandates, then go after admins that were okay with it,” Cuomo said.
“Tony Fauci was foisted into a position because they didn’t want to take the smoke. Trump did it first and then the Biden administration.”
Cuomo concluded by accusing Fauci’s critics of pursuing political attacks rather than legitimate oversight, per Trending Politics.
“But you’re just going after one 80-year-old man. This is not about the truth, it’s about bullsh*t and everybody sees it,” he said.
“The American people still side with what they know is reasonable and not just this bullsh*t. It’s disgraceful what’s happening.”
Fauci’s appearance before Congress came days after the release of his personal diaries and amid ongoing Republican investigations into the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the hearing, Fauci accused committee Chairman Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul (R) of having an “unhinged obsession” with prosecuting him and argued that the hearing was designed to elicit statements that could be used in a criminal case.
Republican lawmakers, including Paul, have argued that Fauci should answer questions because former President Joe Biden previously granted him a pardon. Paul has also announced plans to hold a committee vote on whether Fauci should be held in contempt of Congress for repeatedly invoking the Fifth Amendment.
The debate over Fauci’s testimony has continued to divide opinion, with supporters arguing he was exercising a constitutional right while critics contend the hearing raised legitimate questions about the federal government’s response to the pandemic.
