Fauci's fed up: Hot mic catches top COVID doctor mocking GOP senator as a "moron"

"What a moron, Jesus Christ!" Fauci said of a GOP senator

By Sophia Tesfaye

Senior Politics Editor

Published January 11, 2022 3:23PM (EST)

Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, listens during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on July 20, 2021 in Washington, DC. The committee will hear testimony about the Biden administration's ongoing plans to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and Delta variant. (Stefani Reynolds-Pool/Getty Images)
Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, listens during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on July 20, 2021 in Washington, DC. The committee will hear testimony about the Biden administration's ongoing plans to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and Delta variant. (Stefani Reynolds-Pool/Getty Images)

Following a day of grilling and tedious questioning, Dr. Anthony Fauci wrapped his nearly daylong testimony before a Senate committee by getting caught on the hot mic mocking a Republican as a "moron."

The National Institute of Allergy and Infections Diseases director had just ended an exchange with Republican Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas.

"As the highest paid employee in the entire federal government," Marshall asked Fauci, "Yes or no: Would you be willing to submit to Congress and the public a financial disclosure that includes your past and current investments?"

Fauci responded, "I don't understand why you're asking me that question. My financial disclosure is public knowledge and has been so for the last thirty-seven years or so, 35 years."

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Marshall then accused "big tech giants" of keeping that information from the public.

 "All you have to do is ask for it," Fauci shot back. "You're so misinformed. It's extraordinary."

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Pulling away from the mic, Fauci was caught muttering under his breath: "What a moron! Jesus Christ."

Earlier in the day, Fauci confronted Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who Fauci accused of helping to "kindle the crazies" who have threatened his and his family's life. 

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"What happens when he gets out and accuses me of things that are completely untrue, is that all of a sudden that kindles the crazies out there, and I have threats upon my life, harassment of my family, and my children, with obscene phone calls because people are lying about me," Fauci asked during the Senate hearing.

"So I asked myself, 'Why would senator want to do this?' So go to Rand Paul website and you see 'Fire Dr. Fauci' with a little box that says, 'contribute here' you can do $5 $10 $20 $100," said Fauci. "So you are making a catastrophic epidemic for your political gain."

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By Sophia Tesfaye

Sophia Tesfaye is Salon's senior editor for news and politics, and resides in Washington, D.C. You can find her on Twitter at @SophiaTesfaye.

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Dr. Fauci Republicans Sen. Roger Marshall Senate