已于2022年从美国国立卫生研究院退休的传染病专家安东尼·福奇近日在国会参议院接受共和党议员的严厉质询[1]。现年85岁的福奇曾在该机构服职54年，担任美国国立过敏症和传染病研究所所长38年，疫情初期担任美国首席医疗顾问[1][2]。
这场持续约三小时的听证会由共和党参议员兰德·保罗传唤召集[2]，名义上旨在调查美国政府资助武汉冠状病毒研究的问题[1]。但议员们的质询涉及范围远更广泛，包括疫情期间的口罩政策、社交距离规定、胎儿组织实验以及伊维菌素和羟氯喹等药物的背书[1]。参议员伯尼·莫雷诺在听证会上对福奇说道："你认为你是谁才这样对待这个国家。这完全是一场耻辱"[1]。
评论指出，这场听证会实质上是在重申多年前的既有争议，而非寻求关于新冠病毒研究资助的实质答案，它反映了美国政治中根深蒂固的深层分裂和愤怒[1]。与此同时，福奇在新发布的日记中批评新闻集团记者沙丽·马克森关于COVID-19实验室泄漏起源的著作为"胡说八道"[2]。
Retired epidemiologist Anthony Fauci, 85, faced intense questioning from Republican senators at a congressional hearing focused on the government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.[1][2] Fauci, who stepped down in 2022 after 54 years with the National Institutes of Health, including 38 years leading the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was summoned by Senator Rand Paul to address the administration's pandemic response policies.[1][2]
The three-hour hearing nominally aimed to investigate U.S. government funding of coronavirus research in Wuhan, though the proceedings centered on grievances spanning multiple years of pandemic policy disputes.[1] Republican senators pressed Fauci on a range of contested measures including mask mandates, social distancing requirements, fetal tissue research, and the scientific backing for treatments like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine.[1] Senator Bernie Moreno directly confronted Fauci, stating: "Who do you think you are treating this country this way. This is absolutely a disgrace."[1] The hearing demonstrated the enduring political anger among Republicans over pandemic policies rather than seeking substantive new answers regarding virus research funding.[1]