Washington Examiner executive editor Bob Cusack said Dr. Anthony Fauci’s Senate hearing was significant, but argued that lawmakers undermined its impact by how they conducted the proceedings.
“I think the emphasis of the hearing is a bit off,” Cusack said Wednesday on CNN’s Laura Coates Live. “Having the hearing is a good thing because mistakes were made.”
Fauci was grilled about his actions during the COVID-19 pandemic, but invoked the Fifth Amendment to every question, including what color his tie was and what color the carpet in front of him was. He declined to answer more than 100 questions throughout the hearing.
“We need to know, if this happens again, what are we going to do?” Cusack said.
Cusack argued that the purpose of the hearings should be to uncover information about the virus and help restore public trust in government following criticism that Fauci had downplayed the threat of COVID-19.
“Congress should be holding a lot of hearings on this,” Cusack said. “We’re learning new things, and then try to figure out how to save lives if this, God forbid, happens again.
“Fauci’s 85 years old,” he added. “Putting him in jail? Is that going to save anybody’s life? No.”
Fauci’s diary entries were published by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Rand Paul (R-KY) ahead of the trial, showing his personal thoughts throughout the pandemic. Cusack referred to his entries as “weird” and said that “Dr. Fauci has a huge ego” to say he was the “most talked about person in the country.”
“It is not hyoperbole (sic) to say that today I am the most famous and talked about person in the country and one of the most recognizable peson (sic) in the world,” one entry reads. “Countless profiles on me in multiple media.”
Cusack argued that while the hearing drew attention, voters remain more focused on the economy, after a viewer stated, “No one cares about Dr. Fauci.”
“That’s basically what voters are talking about,” Cusack said.
A Pew Research Center poll found that voters are most concerned with the economy, especially the cost of living and affordability.
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Cusack said the Democratic Party and former President Joe Biden “lost their way” in the 2024 election because they did not pay attention to the economy.
“I think Republicans, to some degree, are not showing empathy,” Cusack said. “Trump’s not showing empathy, and that’s why Republicans could have a tough election come November.”