Internal Politics
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"It Just Sort Of Appeared"

Anthony Fauci's first public testimony after retiring. The subcommittee chairman asked where the six-foot rule came from, whether NIAID money reached a Chinese military scientist, and what changed between calling the lab leak a conspiracy theory and not.

5 threads3 min full readAnthony Fauci, Brad Wenstrup, Nicole MalliotakisThe ReckoningView source ↗
Distancing made sense, but the six feet was arbitrary.

Anthony Fauci had already sat for a closed-door interview running some fourteen hours. On June 3, 2024, he testified publicly for the first time since retiring. The chairman, a physician, opened with the rule that governed American schools and businesses for two years.

Where the rule came from

WenstrupWhile policy decisions should've been based on scientific data, some, frankly, were not. The burdensome six-foot social distancing rule did not have sufficient scientific report. In your words, it just sort of appeared. Distancing made sense, but the six feet was arbitrary. Even Dr. Collins said he still hasn't seen any empirical evidence to support the six-foot rule--a rule that shut down schools and businesses, a rule that will have negative ramifications for decades.

WenstrupAs the pandemic wore on, more mandates also just sort of appeared, but the American public didn't get to see the scientific data to support these mandates.

WenstrupAmericans were aggressively bullied, shamed, and silenced for merely questioning or debating issues such as social distancing, masks, vaccines, or the origins of COVID.

[Hearing transcript, June 3, 2024, opening statement of Chairman Wenstrup.]

The grants

WenstrupWell, NIAID awarded at least three grants via the New York Blood Center to that scientist.

WenstrupHe was a high-ranking Chinese PLA official and director of a lab at the Chinese Academy of Military Medical Sciences.

WenstrupDoes it concern you if U.S. taxpayer dollars are funding someone like this?

FauciGrants that are submitted to the NIAID go through a very----

WenstrupDoes it concern you--I'm not talking about the process right now.

FauciWell, I don't know anything----

WenstrupDoes it concern you that U.S. taxpayer dollars would be going to someone who's a high-ranking Chinese PLA official? Yes or no?

FauciI would have to know more about that, Mr. Chairman----

WenstrupOK.

FauciBecause I don't even----

WenstrupWell, it concerns me.

FauciKnow the person you're talking about.

[Hearing transcript, June 3, 2024, questioning by Chairman Wenstrup.]

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Read the rest of the record.

The rest of this file continues from here, with the remaining exchanges reproduced in full from the same primary source.

  • Bioweapons
  • What science were you following
  • The royalties
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