Dr. Fauci announced to step down as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in December this year.
His decision triggered a backlash from conservative netizens, journalists, and politicians, who slammed the top doctor for his mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Dr. Fauci Lands in Trouble
While announcing his decision, Fauci noted he would retire as the director of the NIAID, as well as the chief medical adviser of the president, to pursue another venture in his life.
Right-wing political observers hammered Fauci on his controversial career, which created political bifurcation within the country in the wake of coronavirus.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the US's top infectious disease expert who has seeming been wrong about everything since the AIDS epidemic, says he will retire by the end of the year likely to avoid being questioned by a GOP controlled house on how he got everything so wrong for so long!
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) August 22, 2022
Karol Markowicz, a conservative columnist for the New York Post, noted health experts should do everything to tackle the pandemic, which Fauci did not do while handling the coronavirus.
Markowicz added that a number of people died due to Fauci’s COVID mismanagement as he tried to politicize the virus.
Some right-wing insiders argued Fauci is leaving his position with the fear of Republicans’ potential victory in the midterm elections.
Clay Travis, the founder of a right-leaning digital media outlet, Outkick, asserted Fauci is trying to avoid congressional investigations. Republicans can prosecute him for lying to Congress after their midterm election victories.
Republican Congressman Andy Biggs also insisted Fauci is leaving his position after destroying the United States to avoid accountability.
Furthermore, Richard H. Ebright, a board member at Rutgers University, added Fauci was an extremely ignorant public official who should be held accountable in any case.
Fauci is stepping down in December to try and avoid scrutiny from a Republican House that will take over in January.
Understand this loud and clear, Anthony:
We are coming for you whether you retire or not. You will not get away with what you did to America.
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) August 22, 2022
Republican Lawmakers to Investigate Fauci Next Year
Ranking House Oversight and Reform Committee member James Comer noted even retirement cannot save Dr. Fauci from congressional investigations.
This means the GOP will still investigate Fauci’s controversial role in mishandling coronavirus after winning Congress in November.
In addition to that, House Minority Whip Steve Scalise established Fauci would have enough time to appear in front of Congress after leaving his job.
Likewise, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy doubled down on his previous calls to investigate Fauci next year.
McCarthy claimed Fauci’s controversial policies kept schools and businesses shut down, not to mention he kept lying about the origins of the coronavirus.
Republican senators also raised their concerns along similar lines.
Senator Rand Paul noted Fauci’s resignation could not save him from any congressional oversight. The GOP will ask him to testify under oath regarding all the information he has about the COVID lab leak theory.
Republican Senator Ted Cruz called out Fauci for his controversial COVID response, accusing him of corruption and dishonesty.
However, liberal politicians, notably President Biden, praised Dr. Fauci for his heroics during the coronavirus pandemic.
Biden claimed Fauci did an exceptional job in bringing the world out of the pandemic and said the world will still be enlightened by Fauci’s expertise in times to come.
This article appeared in TheDailyBeat and has been published here with permission.
