Dr. Fauci blames Marjorie Taylor Greene for his death threats

In a tense hearing on the pandemic before the Republican-led House of Representatives, Dr. Anthony Fauci was questioned about the origins of COVID-19 and the government’s response. During the session, he claimed that Marjorie Taylor Greene’s malicious comments toward him were responsible for the death threats he and his family have received since the pandemic began.

Fauci says “performances” like Greene’s at COVID hearing drives up death threats against him https://t.co/20aK42El2F

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In his first public appearance since leaving government in 2022, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases was the subject of a confrontational and emotional hearing on Capitol Hill as he faces partisan adversity.

Georgia’s controversial representative, Marjorie Taylor Greene, adopted a particularly aggressive attitude during her question period on the first day of the hearings, going so far as to refuse to acknowledge Fauci’s medical qualifications and infantilely calling him “Mr. Fauci” rather than “Doctor Fauci”. Fauci responded to the representative by stating that it was this type of comment that had led to numerous death threats against him in connection with these events.

These hearings will focus on the origins of the virus, certain policy measures relating to the pandemic, such as guidelines for social distancing, mandatory vaccination and the wearing of masks by children, as well as certain theories that have circulated, such as that of the laboratory leak.

Republican members of the committee expressed skepticism about the policies promoted by Dr. Fauci, arguing that they were not based on solid scientific evidence.

For their part, the committee’s Democratic members called Dr. Fauci an American hero and vigorously condemned hostile questions against him as totally irresponsible.

During his speech, Dr. Fauci revealed that he had received serious death threats aimed not only at himself, but also at his wife and daughters. The severity of these threats has necessitated ongoing protection. Fauci also mentioned that these threats had had disastrous repercussions on his health. Two individuals were arrested in connection with the threats.

The sharp contrast between Republicans and Democrats at this hearing underscores the continuing political divisions over the management of the COVID-19 pandemic.