WASHINGTON (WKRC) - U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, the Republican from Kentucky, made headlines for taking on Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institutes of Health.
Paul accuses the NIH of funding Chinese research into how viruses move from animals to humans. He says so-called “gain of function” research might have led to the creation of COVID-19.
Local 12 spoke with Paul about that exchange Thursday. He reiterated his claims and says Fauci needs to be held accountable.
“We should not be experimenting with making it more transmissible,” Paul said. “If something were to escape that is that deadly and cause a pandemic? When you see his answers in the testimony, you see someone who is not being genuine because he has actually been an outspoken advocate of gain of function."
Ohio U.S Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, says Paul is off base.
“He represents a part of a political party that doesn't believe in public health prevention,” Brown said. “While 99 other senators were wearing masks, he wasn't. So I don't listen to his public health advice."