Tensions ran high in Congress yesterday as Dr. Anthony Fauci appeared before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, marking his first public testimony since leaving the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Republicans were largely critical of Fauci and his underlings in the public health sphere, while Democrats framed GOP concerns as being nothing more than politically motivated attacks on “a lifelong public servant.”
![Dr. Anthony Fauci arrives to testify before the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic in Washington on June 3, 2024. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F06%2F03%2Fid5662036-06032024-DSC00864-ANTHONY-FAUCI-1200x800.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
The testimony comes after discoveries by the panel showing that Dr. David Morens, a senior scientific adviser to the office of the director at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), had intentionally sought to avoid Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.
FOIA requests—which can be made by any American—require government agencies to release emails and other documents, often containing requested key words, with exceptions for classified information or information otherwise relevant to national security.
But recent discoveries showed that Morens, who was close to Fauci, made substantial efforts to bypass these public disclosure requirements on issues related to COVID-19 at the height of the pandemic, even bragging that he could “make emails disappear” in one uncovered email.
In other areas, Morens encouraged intentional misspelling of key words to evade FOIA requests.
Morens’ behavior—which has been condemned by Republicans and Democrats alike—was a key issue during Fauci’s hearing before the panel.
But in his remarks, Fauci disavowed Morens and his actions, downplaying the closeness of their relationship.
“I knew nothing of Dr. Morens’s actions regarding … his emails,” Fauci said. “It is important to point out for the record that, despite his title, and even though he was helpful to me in writing scientific papers, Dr. Morens was not an adviser to me on institute policy or other substantive issues.”
Fauci said he might have spoken to Dr. Morens over personal email addresses about chapters they write for medical books, but insisted that those communications were never about official business.
“I do not do government business on my private email,” he said.
Many Republicans indicated they weren’t buying it, though.
“These men were among your most senior and trusted staff,” Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.) said. “It is hard to believe that all of this occurred without your knowledge and/or approval.”
Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) said the actions showed a “troubling pattern of behavior from your inner circle.”
Democrats largely expressed support for Fauci and condemned what they described as GOP attacks against him.
“You and our top scientists did everything you could to keep Americans safe during the deadly days of COVID-19,” Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) said.
—Joseph Lord
TODAY’S PRIMARIES
Three states hold primary elections today in a pair of Senate contests and a handful of house races that could impact the balance of power in the next Congress.
Incumbent Rep. Thomas Kean Jr. (R-N.J.) faces only token opposition in the primary. The real challenge is expected in the general election as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has targeted the 7th district as one of 34 open or Republican-held seats to capture this year.
Susan Altman, a progressive organizer, is unopposed in the Democratic primary. She has cast the race as a battle for control of the House in an effort to oppose President Donald Trump.
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) is under indictment on charges that he acted as a foreign agent to the governments of Egypt and Qatar and accepted gold bars and cash as bribes. He has denied any wrongdoing.
Menendez at first said he would run to retain his seat only if acquitted of the charges but abruptly reversed course on June 3, announcing that he would file to run as an independent.
Republicans have a better-than-usual opportunity to flip the seat.
The two Republican candidates are Curtis Bashaw, the well-connected founder and managing partner of Cape Resorts, which features a collection of renovated Cape May hotels, and Mendham Borough Mayor Christine Serrano Glassner, who has been endorsed by Donald Trump.
New Jersey is a solidly Democratic state, and the prevailing primary Republican will face the top Democrat, probably U.S. Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.), who is expected to easily win the nomination.
Lawrence Hamm is a far-left Democrat seeking reparations for slavery, free college, the end to climate change, and stronger unions, according to his website.
Labor leader Patricia Campos Medina advocates for workers’ right to join a union and earn more money.
In Montana, Tim Sheehy appeared the ideal Republican to unseat Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), who has defied the odds three times to be elected to the U.S. Senate in ruby-red Montana.
Sheehy’s cakewalk to securing the nod in Montana’s June 4 primary has been hampered by toe-stubs that spurred questions about his Minnesota upbringing, a confusing tale about a bullet in his arm, and business dealings that have drawn lawsuits.
The fog has elevated former Montana Secretary of State Brad Johnson’s candidacy from an also-ran into a viable upset underdog.
Sheehy remains the front-runner. He’s out-raised Mr. Johnson $10.446 million to $43,000 and the most recent poll, in March, shows him edging ahead of Mr. Tester.
Iowa’s 3rd District is helmed by U.S. Air Force veteran Rep. Zach Nunn (R-Iowa). He will likely face one of two Democrats in November.
One is Lanon Baccam, a U.S. Army veteran who served under former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The other is Melissa Vine, executive director of a non-profit residential home for women in Des Moines.
Baccam holds the advantage in fundraising by nearly $2 million and has the endorsement of Vilsack.
Rep. Marianette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) will face a November challenge from Christina Bohannan, a University of Iowa law professor who is unopposed in the Democratic primary.
BOOKMARKS
After joining TikTok, former President Donald Trump quickly gained millions of followers on the Gen Z-centric app, The Epoch Times’ Aldgra Fredly reported. Trump currently has 4.5 million followers on the platform to President Joe Biden’s roughly 351,000 followers.
Audio recordings of Biden’s interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur differ from the transcripts of the interview, The Epoch Times’ Zack Stieber reported. However, the DOJ claims that these differences are “minor” as Biden continues to seek to block the public release of the tapes.
Trump is calling for the U.S. Supreme Court to quickly intervene after he was convicted of falsifying business records last week, The Epoch Times’ Jack Phillips reported. Trump wants the high court to step in before he’s sentenced on July 11, saying that the Supreme Court’s decision in dealing with the case will “determine the future of our nation.” Meanwhile, a former Manhattan district attorney opined that Trump is unlikely to face jail time.
President Biden issued a statement of support for his embattled son Hunter Biden as the younger Biden faced the first day of proceedings in his gun violation case. The Epoch Times’ Jacob Burg reported on the statement, in which Biden said he has “boundless love” for his son and “respect for his strength.” First Lady Jill Biden, meanwhile, attended the first day of proceedings in person.