WATCH: Raskin Has Fauci Debunk Trump and Gohmert Coronavirus ‘Propaganda’ Live During Hearing
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) went through a series of statements with Dr. Anthony Fauci to whittle out the “propaganda and disinformation” around Covid-19, even throwing shots at Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) who claimed mask-wearing gave him the virus.
“I thank both you [Dr. Robert Redfield] and Dr. Fauci for restating the absolute imperative importance of everybody wearing their masks when they are out in public and everybody maintaining social distance and following the other public health protocol,” Raskin said. “But the public health officials have been subjected to harassment, and we’ve even seen some today.”
“Dr. Fauci, why don’t I start with you, are children almost immune to the disease?” Raskin asked. “Just yes or no because I have a lot to get through.”
“Be a little more precise [with] ‘almost immune’,” Fauci said. “But do children get infected? Yes, they do.”
“Hundreds of thousands of children infected, so children are not immune to the disease,” Haskin reiterated. “Is Covid-19 going to magically disappear, Dr. Fauci?”
“I do not believe it would disappear because it’s such a highly transmissible virus,” Fauci responded. “It is unlikely that it’s going to disappear.”
Raskin then asked “Does wearing a mask give people Covid-19?,” and “Is Covid-19 a “hoax?” On Wednesday, Gohmert was diagnosed with the novel virus, but blamed mask-wearing because “I was bound to put some virus on the mask,” he said. Fauci responded no to both of Raskin’s questions.
“Should people take hydroxychloroquine as a cure for Covid-19,” Raskin continued.
“The overwhelming cumulative evidence of properly conducted randomized controlled trials indicate no therapeutic efficacy for hydroxychloroquine,” Fauci responded.
“Can people cure themselves of Covid-19 by injecting themselves with disinfectant or bleach?” Raskin said, taking a shot at President Donald Trump who suggested that on April 23. Fauci responded no.
“Do we have the financial resources and the scientific expertise in America to do what other governments have done to bring the infection rate down to something manageable so the end is in sight of this nightmare?” Raskin asked.
“I believe we do have the tools and certainly there’s been a considerable degree of financial investment,” Fauci said.
“So what is the difference?” Raskin asked.”Why are all of the other countries defeating the disease and we’re not? Why do we not have a plan, a strategy for victory to win, to beat Covid-19?”
Raskin then pressed Fauci to place blame on why the federal government has struggled to contain Covid-19, which Fauci noted that America’s “diversity of response from different states” played a part.
Watch above, via CNN.
