Anthony Fauci (left), Ted Cruz.Photo: J. Scott Applewhite-Pool/Getty; Greg Nash-Pool/Getty
Dr.Anthony Faucislammed Ted Cruz after the Republican senator said the nation’s leading infectious disease expert should face federal prosecution over some of his testimony before Congress.
Asked to comment on Cruz’s suggestion that he be prosecuted,Dr. Fauci, 80, said to CBS News’Face the Nationon Sunday: “I have to laugh at that. I should be prosecuted? What happened on January 6, senator?”
In the same interview, Fauci added: “That’s okay. I’m just gonna do my job, and I’m gonna be saving lives, and they’re gonna be lying.”
Fauci added that Cruz and others who take aim at him are using him as a scapegoat in an attempt to discredit the science behind things like mask-wearing, social distancing, and vaccines.
“So if they get up and criticize science, nobody’s going to know what they’re talking about. But if they get up and really aim their bullets at Tony Fauci, well, people could recognize there’s a person there,” he said. “There’s a face, there’s a voice you can recognize, you see him on television.”
Fauci continued: “To me, that’s more dangerous than the slings and the arrows that get thrown at me. I’m not going to be around here forever, but science is going to be here forever. And if you damage science, you are doing something very detrimental to society long after I leave. And that’s what I worry about.”
Cruz in’t the only Republican lawmaker with whom Fauci has sparred.
The health official previously had testy exchanges with Sen.Rand Paulof Kentucky, with the two arguing over the pushto reopen schools, whether it was safe torelax restrictions on businesses, and why it’s necessary for people to be wearing masks after they get vaccinated.
“You’re telling everyone to wear a mask,” the senator told Fauci. “If we’re not spreading the infection, isn’t it just theater?”
Fauci, who appeared annoyed at the senator’s suggestion, tried to interrupt while Paul questioned the importance of wearing a mask.
“No, it’s not—” Fauci said, before letting Paul finish his question.
“Here we go again with the theater,” Fauci then responded, brushing Paul off with the wave of his hand. “Let’s get down to the facts.”
source: people.com
