CNN Panel Explodes as MAGA Pundit Claims ‘Sociopath’ Fauci Belongs in ‘Mental Institution’

A CNN panel descended into a shouting match Thursday after former Trump White House aide Caroline Sunshine declared Dr. Anthony Fauci “should be in a mental institution” and branded the longtime public health official a “textbook sociopath,” prompting immediate disbelief from host Abby Phillip and fellow panelists.

The clash unfolded on CNN NewsNight during a discussion about renewed Republican scrutiny of Fauci, who has been hauled before Congress and faces the prospect of further legal action following the release of diary entries from his time leading the nation’s Covid-19 response.

Author Leigh McGowan argued Fauci was being unfairly blamed for decisions ultimately made by President Donald Trump.

“Well, he started at the behest of the Trump administration; we should point that out,” she said. “He did not have the authority to do any of the things people are claiming he is responsible for. He didn’t shut down the country, Trump chose to. He didn’t shut down the schools. Trump did. He didn’t mandate masks. Trump did.”

She added that Fauci was “being used as a scapegoat” and called the renewed focus on the former health adviser “a lawless political stunt,” arguing: “You shouldn’t be tarring and feathering someone that has been in six administrations, whose doing nothing but being a devoted servant of our public health.”

Sunshine responded, however, by blasting Fauci: “Forget about prosecuting him, the guy should be in a mental institution! He’s a textbook sociopath. I mean, DSM 5 level sociopath running our pandemic response, low empathy, ability to inflict pain on innocents, narcissism.”

McGowan shot back: “What are you talking about?”

As several panelists erupted, talking over one another, Phillip stepped in.

“What are you talking about?” the host asked before pressing Sunshine further: “Are you suggesting that he should be in a mental institution for having an ego, which I think would characterize just about every single person in Washington?”

Sunshine attempted to cite Fauci’s diary entries, mocking passages about media attention he received during the pandemic.

Former Trump White House Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Matthews then cut in: “”Caroline, I worked as Trump’s deputy press secretary during Covid so I actually worked – I will acknowledge, was it very frustrating working in the White House press office and him being on a magazine cover or doing an interview on TV where he’s talking ill about the White House and its Covid response? Yes, that was annoying.”

She continued: “But the thing is, then trying to scapegoat him and say that it’s all his fault? We were dealing with a novel virus. This was a once-in-a-lifetime generational pandemic. And so we were all figuring it out as we went on.”

When Sunshine interjected, “Not him, he was busy reading his own press clips!” Matthews replied: “And you don’t think that Donald Trump and all those other senators on the hill are just as narcissistic? I mean come on, those guys would slit someone’s throat to go on Fox News.”

Sunshine mocked co-panelists for having been in “love” with Fauci as Phillip cut in: “Maybe he was drinking his own Kool-Aid, but you know who was pouring the Kool-Aid as well, Caroline? Donald Trump – let’s play the clips.”

Phillip then aired archival clips of Trump praising Fauci in 2020 as “a major television star,” “so professional” and “talented.”

After the montage, Phillip concluded: “Now, to be honest, I don’t care about any of that. I think it’s totally fair that Trump was praising him. I think it is a little embarrassing that he loved his press so much, but my question is, what is he being prosecuted for?”

Watch above via CNN.

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