I read Anthony Fauci’s seven hour deposition.
To me, someone who knows this story pretty well, it seems like Fauci makes a few contradictory statements.
agjefflandry.com
To me, someone who knows this story pretty well, it seems like Fauci makes a few contradictory statements.
agjefflandry.com
Some background: A lab sparking a pandemic sounds like science fiction.
But there was a real debate pre-pandemic about whether unchecked virology could do just that.
However Fauci favored more research.
He’s asked about that:
p. 14
But there was a real debate pre-pandemic about whether unchecked virology could do just that.
However Fauci favored more research.
He’s asked about that:
p. 14
During this debate there was a multiyear pause on NIH funding for experiments that make viruses more dangerous.
But an exception was made for Ralph Baric, who innovated new methods to study coronaviruses and worked with the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
But an exception was made for Ralph Baric, who innovated new methods to study coronaviruses and worked with the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
Contradiction #1
Fauci reads the policy stating that the director of a funding agency (Fauci) could grant exemptions to the gain of function pause.
He immediately contradicts this and says he has no idea who gave the exception to Baric.
He blames an aide.
p. 29
Fauci reads the policy stating that the director of a funding agency (Fauci) could grant exemptions to the gain of function pause.
He immediately contradicts this and says he has no idea who gave the exception to Baric.
He blames an aide.
p. 29
Funnily enough he blames the same aide he asked to investigate when Baric’s work when it first alarmed him in early 2020
(Poor Hugh.)
(Poor Hugh.)
Caveat: This is challenging to fact check because (even today!!) this process is totally secret.
Not even Congress knows who makes up the ultra-secret panel that approves this research.
republicans-energycommerce.house.gov
Not even Congress knows who makes up the ultra-secret panel that approves this research.
republicans-energycommerce.house.gov
Contradiction #2
At first Fauci says he first became aware of Baric’s work when Sen. Rand Paul grilled him on it.
p. 31
At first Fauci says he first became aware of Baric’s work when Sen. Rand Paul grilled him on it.
p. 31
Later, Fauci suddently recollects learning about Baric’s work in early 2020.
He again appears to blame his staff.
“I didn’t like that I was in the dark about the totality of work that was being done.”
p. 58, 71
He again appears to blame his staff.
“I didn’t like that I was in the dark about the totality of work that was being done.”
p. 58, 71
FOIA'd emails suggest he was worried about Baric because of NIH connections to a possible lab accident. But Fauci repeatedly says he "doesn't recall"
p. 61
p. 61
Contradiction(ish) #3
Fauci says he wanted to know about Baric's research to prepare for the call with the virologists, yet didn’t bring it up at all on the call
He leaves out that Baric’s research was indeed discussed
p. 64
Fauci says he wanted to know about Baric's research to prepare for the call with the virologists, yet didn’t bring it up at all on the call
He leaves out that Baric’s research was indeed discussed
p. 64
Fauci confirms what FOIA’d emails already showed: that he became aware that his institute funded EcoHealth and the Wuhan Institute of Virology early in the pandemic
He says it was in January, February or March (pretty vague!)
p. 22
He says it was in January, February or March (pretty vague!)
p. 22
But he says he doesn’t recognize an email clearly showing him that he funded EcoHealth Alliance in late January
p. 42
p. 42
Contradiction #4
Fauci says he believes that EcoHealth has complete access to the Wuhan Institute of Virology’s genomes.
p. 37
He doesn't know his own agency temporarily terminated a grant precisely bc EcoHealth doesn't?
thebulletin.org
Fauci says he believes that EcoHealth has complete access to the Wuhan Institute of Virology’s genomes.
p. 37
He doesn't know his own agency temporarily terminated a grant precisely bc EcoHealth doesn't?
thebulletin.org
Fauci says all of Wuhan Institute of Virology’s genomes were published in the public literature.
Not accurate.
DRASTIC research shows a password protected section of the WIV database was for genomes that hadn't been released.
P. 158
Not accurate.
DRASTIC research shows a password protected section of the WIV database was for genomes that hadn't been released.
P. 158
Contradiction #5
Fauci hedges on whether he was concerned about how people would discuss COVID’s origins on social media
P. 78, 99
Fauci hedges on whether he was concerned about how people would discuss COVID’s origins on social media
P. 78, 99
But pressed further, Fauci acknowledges that he was concerned about certain origin theories (because it’s obvious through FOIA’d emails)
p. 106
p. 106
Fauci’s daughter worked for Twitter, but as an engineer and not on the safety team
Still, I think this is interesting bc @mtaibbi reported last week that requests to censor info were often based on people using their connections to work the refs
No evidence of that tho
p. 100
Still, I think this is interesting bc @mtaibbi reported last week that requests to censor info were often based on people using their connections to work the refs
No evidence of that tho
p. 100
In addition to the contradictions, Fauci seems forgetful
It beggars belief that Fauci doesn’t remember why he might be discussing serial passage (a way of making a virus fitter without engineering) in early 2020
P. 116
It beggars belief that Fauci doesn’t remember why he might be discussing serial passage (a way of making a virus fitter without engineering) in early 2020
P. 116
It beggars belief that Fauci did not know Shi Zhengli’s name
P. 33
P. 33
Fauci says he doesn’t recall meeting with Ralph Baric on Feb 11st because he meets with a lot of scientists.
But I read through his calendar during those critical early days.
He doesn’t meet with many scientists one-on-one.
P. 149
But I read through his calendar during those critical early days.
He doesn’t meet with many scientists one-on-one.
P. 149
I found reading through this to be helpful because, unlike reporters, the attorneys clearly do not care about Fauci’s charm offensive
Finally, Fauci acknowledges concerns about misinformation and disinformation on social media
But when asked whether that includes the lab leak theory, he backs off and says we must have an open mind
I agree :)
p. 103
But when asked whether that includes the lab leak theory, he backs off and says we must have an open mind
I agree :)
p. 103
Loading suggestions...