Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) was reprimanded by Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio), the chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, for refusing to recognize Anthony Fauci as a doctor while questioning him.
Fauci, who became the face of the administration's COVID-19 response while head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testified Monday before the Republican Party-led committee for the first time since his retirement.
When it was Greene's turn to question him, the Georgia Republican refused to call Fauci “doctor” and instead referred to him as “Mr. Fauci.”
“Do you think that is appropriate? Do the American people deserve to be abused like this, Mr. Fauci, because you are not a “Dr.” you, but 'Mr. Fauci' in my few minutes,” she said, before adding, “No, I don't need your answer.”
She urged him to require schools to require children to wear masks during the pandemic and the six-foot social distancing guidelines introduced in many public spaces to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) quickly objected, asking, “Are we, just in terms of the rules of decency, allowed to deny that a doctor is a doctor just because we don't want him to be a doctor?”
“Yes, because in my time that man doesn't deserve to have a license. In fact, it should be revoked and he belongs in jail,” Greene responded.
Wenstrup then reprimanded Greene, loudly saying that “Mr. Lady will adjourn” and ordering her to recognize Fauci as a doctor.
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) also said it was “unacceptable” for Greene not to address Fauci by the correct title.
“It is completely unacceptable to deny Dr. Fauci, who is here, a respected member of the medical community, his title. And that's actually a personal attack on his character,” he said.
This prompted Greene to say that Fauci was “disrespected” and not to address Fauci as a doctor. Wenstrup then urged all members of the committee to adhere to rules of decorum and “keep their comments in mind.”
Greene concluded her questioning by calling for a criminal referral against Fauci for “crimes against humanity.”
“Do you know what this committee should do? We should recommend that you be prosecuted. We should write a criminal referral because you should be prosecuted for crimes against humanity. You belong in jail, Dr. Fauci,” Greene said, without giving Fauci time to respond.
