By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-07-29 17:37:48 | Updated at 2026-08-10 18:32:33
1 week ago
Ohio Republican Senator Bernie Moreno didn't hold back while grilling former COVID expert Dr. Anthony Fauci on Capitol Hill Wednesday afternoon.
Moreno called Fauci a 'total disgrace' during a hearing of the Senate Homeland Security Committee when he detailed how he was compelled to run for office six years ago when he saw a story of a mom being arrested for watching a football game outside with her family due to guidelines issued by governments based on Fauci's advice.
'Who the f**k do you think you were for doing that? It was a total disgrace to this country, and if my Democrat colleagues are standing there defending you, I hope the voters of the United States of America have watched clips of every one of them building of a guy who was more interested in being a celebrity,' than doing his job leading the country through the pandemic.
Fauci refused to answer more than 100 questions about COVID-19 origins during an explosive hearing where he blasted Republicans' 'unhinged obsession' with him.
The former chief medical advisor invoked the Fifth Amendment to avoid self-incrimination in the opening round. He then continued to do so 111 separate times when interrogated by lawmakers on the committee.
'On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution,' Fauci told Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul numerous times in the opening round of questions.
During his opening statement, Fauci earlier accused Paul of having an 'unhinged obsession' with him.
Bernie Moreno grilled Anthony Fauci on Capitol Hill on Wednesday
Former Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Dr. Anthony Fauci testifies before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs on Capitol Hill
'Given Senator Paul's obvious obsession with calling for my prosecution, his repeated slanderous comments about me, and recently his publicly releasing my unredacted personal diary aimed at embarrassing and intimidating me,' Fauci noted.
'The only conclusion I can reach is that the sole reason he is calling me before this committee is to get me to say something, anything that could vindicate his repeated public pledges that I end up in his words 'behind bars,' Fauci continued.
'Any reasonable person who has followed his unhinged obsession with me would readily come to the same conclusion,' he added.
Fauci's attorney David Schertler was physically removed by security in an explosive moment when he attempted to speak on behalf on Fauci.
'I didn't invite you here to testify,' exclaimed Paul before setting the guards on him to drag him out.
