Clermont Times

On May 1, 2024, the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic Chairman Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) released the transcript from Dr. Anthony Fauci’s transcribed interview. Dr. Fauci, who served as the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), was a prominent figure in America’s public health response during the COVID-19 pandemic. His closed-door, 14-hour, two-day testimony in January 2024 is a significant part of the Select Subcommittee’s investigations into various aspects of the pandemic.

In addition to Dr. Fauci's transcript, the Select Subcommittee also released a new staff memo highlighting key takeaways from his interview. The memo can be accessed online.

The Subcommittee made available four additional transcripts from senior public health officials:

- Greg Folkers, Dr. Fauci's Chief-of-Staff

- Gray Handley, Associate Director for International Affairs at NIAID

- Dr. Hugh Auchincloss, Former Acting NIAID Director

- Dr. Cliff Lane, Deputy Director for Clinical Research at NIAID

Key exchanges from Dr. Fauci’s interview include:

**Social Distancing:** The “6 feet apart” social distancing recommendation was described by Dr. Fauci as arbitrary and not based on scientific studies.

Majority Counsel: “Do you recall when discussions regarding, kind of, the at least a 6 foot threshold began?”

Dr. Fauci: “You know, I don't recall... It sort of just appeared.”

**Masking:** Dr. Fauci testified that he did not recall any supporting evidence for masking children.

Majority Counsel: “Do you recall reviewing any studies or data supporting masking for children?”

Dr. Fauci: “I might have... but I don't recall specifically that I did.”

**Travel Restrictions:** Dr. Fauci agreed with every travel restriction issued by the Trump Administration during the pandemic.

Majority Counsel: “Did you agree with President Trump's decision to restrict travel from China?"

Dr. Fauci: “I did... fundamentally, I agreed at that time.”

**Vaccine Mandates:** Dr. Fauci admitted that vaccine mandates could increase vaccine hesitancy and were not sufficiently studied ahead of the pandemic.

Majority Counsel: “Do you think mandating vaccines can result in some hesitancy?”

Dr. Fauci: “I think... we really need to take a look at... does [mandating] actually cause more people to not want to get vaccinated?”

**Lab Leak Theory:** Dr. Fauci acknowledged that the lab leak hypothesis is not a conspiracy theory.

Majority Counsel: “Do you think... that coronavirus emerged from a laboratory accident is a conspiracy theory?”

Dr. Fauci: “Well, it's a possibility... it could be a lab leak or it could be a natural occurrence.”

**Gain-of-Function Research:** Dr. Fauci discussed semantics around "gain-of-function" research definitions without conceding NIH funding involvement.

Dr. Fauci: "When I'm asked if something is gain-of-function... that's my definition."

**Conflicts of Interest:** Despite claiming no conflicts among his staff regarding COVID-19 origins, questions arose about relationships with EcoHealth Alliance President Dr. Peter Daszak.

Majority Counsel: "Do you have thoughts on whether Dr. Daszak should have filed competing interest statements?"

Dr. Fauci: "I hesitate to speculate about what someone else should do."

**Grant Approval:** He signed off on every NIAID grant without reviewing proposals and could not confirm oversight mechanisms for foreign laboratories funded by NIAID.

Majority Counsel: "Who gives final approval?"

Dr. Fauci: "Technically, I sign off on each council... but I don't see the grants."

**Feigned Ignorance:** On numerous occasions—over 100 times—Dr. Fauci claimed he did not recall specific details related to pandemic events and issues.

Majority Counsel: "Do you recall when you first found out that year 5 progress report was missing from EcoHealth grant?"

Dr. Fauci: "I don't recall precisely..."

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