By Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi
Former White House chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci has agreed to testify before House Republicans in early 2023 for their probe into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fauci’s appearance in January would mark his first time testifying in the GOP-controlled House and his first appearance in Congress since exiting government at the end of 2022.
- The Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic announced Thursday that Fauci had agreed to a two-day transcribed interview Jan. 8 and 9 with the panel.
- Committee chair Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) said it was “time for Dr. Fauci to confront the facts and address the numerous controversies that have arisen during and after the pandemic.”
- A public hearing will happen at a later date.
When Fauci stepped down as the nation’s top infectious diseases expert in 2022, House Republicans made it clear that they would call him back for testimony, which the long-time government official said he was prepared to cooperate with. Since stepping down, he has taken on a role as a distinguished professor at Georgetown University.
Fauci led the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for almost four decades under Republican and Democratic presidents. He drew the ire of former President Trump and congressional Republicans over his support for pandemic mitigation efforts like masks and vaccine mandates, as well as for the times he contradicted Trump’s public statements.
“Americans deserve trusted public health leaders who prioritize the well-being of our people over any personal or political goals,” Wenstrup said in a statement. “Thankfully, retirement from public service does not shield one from Congressional oversight nor accountability to the American people. During Dr. Fauci’s upcoming testimonies, honesty is non-negotiable.”
House Republicans, including Wenstrup, have accused Fauci of being involved in a coverup about the origins of COVID-19. Fauci has denied the criticism.
A report from the House Intelligence Committee last year concluded that the virus came from a Chinese lab, and claimed there were signs it was developed as a bioweapon. The U.S. intelligence community said the virus was not a bioweapon, but couldn’t conclusively prove whether it leaked from a lab or was naturally occurring.
Fauci has said he thinks there’s evidence to show the virus originated in nature, but there is no definitive answer.
