Things got heated between Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Dr. Anthony Fauci during a hearing on COVID-19.
During a hearing before the House Coronavirus Crisis Subcommittee on Thursday, Jordan noted that in Fauci’s written statement, the infectious disease expert said, “Now is not the time to pull back on masking, physical distancing, and avoiding congregant settings.”
He asked, “When is the time? When do Americans get their freedom back?”
“When we get the level of infection in this country low enough that it is not a really high threat,” Fauci began to respond.
Jordan interrupted, “What is low enough? Give me a number. We had 15 days to slow the spread turned into one year of lost liberty. What metrics, what measures, what has to happen before Americans get more freedoms?”
Fauci said his goal was to encourage enough Americans to get vaccinated “as quickly as we possibly can to get the level of infection in this country low [enough] that it is now longer a threat.”
However, the Ohio Congressman was not pleased that Fauci did not give him a specific measure for when mitigation efforts could be lifted.
He asked, “What determines when? What? What Measure? Are we just going to continue this forever? When do we get to the point? What measure, what standard, what objective outcome do we have to reach before Americans get their liberty and freedoms back?”
While Fauci noted Jordan was focusing on liberty and freedoms, he said, “I don’t look at this as a liberty thing, Congressman Jordan. I look at this as a public health thing.”
“That’s obvious,” Jordan shot back. “You think the Constitution is suspended during a virus, during a pandemic? It’s certainly not.”
Fauci asserted that once the level of infection drops, the mitigation efforts can be lifted. However, he raised concerns that there could be another “major surge.”
Watch the video below:
Rep. Jordan (R-OH) demands Dr. Fauci give him a date for the end of COVID mitigation measures:
— The Recount (@therecount) April 15, 2021
“15 days to slow the spread turned into 1 year of lost liberty.”
Fauci says: “I don’t look at this as a liberty thing, Congressman Jordan. I look at this as a public health thing.” pic.twitter.com/Pgv2mEySeo
As the exchange continued past Jordan’s assigned time to question Fauci, he sought to get an answer on a specific measure for when the mitigation efforts could be lifted.
“When 90% of the members of Congress get vaccinated,” Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), the chairman of the committee, interjected as he tried to give another member of the committee time to speak.
Jordan shot back, “But you’re not a doctor, Mr. Clyburn, [Fauci] is. What is the number?
“I’d like my question answered,” Jordan said as he raised his voice. “Mr. chairman, I don’t want you to answer my question, the American people want Dr. Fauci to answer the question.”
"Shut your mouth!"
— Mediaite (@Mediaite) April 15, 2021
WATCH: The House Covid hearing erupted on Thursday as Rep. Maxine Waters cut off a brutal exchange between Rep. Jim Jordan and Dr. Fauci. pic.twitter.com/f0phHhYGK1
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) entered the fray, saying, “Your time is expired, sir. You need to respect the chair and shut your mouth!”
Clyburn sought to assure Jordan that “we’re going to handle this.”
