Fauci, Rand Paul clash over ‘gain of function’ research at Wuhan lab in China

Dr. Anthony Fauci and Sen. Rand Paul sparred Tuesday over claims that the Chinese lab where the virus is suspected to have emerged was doing “gain of function” research with funds provided by the National Institutes of Health.

Beginning his questioning by reminding Fauci that lying to Congress is a felony, Paul quizzed Fauci about his testimony from a May hearing in which Fauci denied the NIH-funded gain of function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.  “Dr. Fauci, knowing that it is a crime to lie to Congress, do you wish to retract your statement of May 11 where you claimed at the NIH never funded gain of function research and move on,” Paul (R-Ky.) asked during testimony Tuesday before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.