Frustrated Fauci Pushes Back on Jim Jordan’s Badgering Over Protests: ‘You’re Putting Words in My Mouth’

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) badgered Dr. Anthony Fauci over his opinion on limiting protests amid the pandemic during his hearing before Congress on Friday — prompting Fauci to push back and point out he is not in the position to “determine what the government can do in a forceful way.”

Jordan pressed Fauci regarding the protests and noted that Churches and offices have had to close due to the outbreak — pushing him to reveal if he thinks the government should put an end to the demonstrations.

Fauci responded by explaining that he believes all large gatherings should be limited throughout the pandemic, especially if masks are not being worn, but would not definitively object to protests.

Jordan then asked if the government should limit the protesting, which Fauci pointed out was not in his right to determine — adding, “I’m not in a position to determine what the government can do in a forceful way.”

Jordan began to detail the violence present during certain protests and demonstrations — leading Fauci to scoff and, again, respond by telling the representative he will not reveal his position on limiting protests.

The two continued to clash on Fauci’s position on protests and large gatherings, prompting Fauci to get frustrated with the representative, which eventually resulted in a back-and-forth between them

“So you’re allowed to protest millions of people on one day in crowds yelling, screaming, but you try to run your business and you get arrested and if you stood right outside of that same business and protested you wouldn’t get arrested, you don’t see any inconsistency there?” Jordan asked.

Fauci questioned why Jordan was asking him, a health expert, about who should get arrested and who shouldn’t, pointing out that he does not have the position to make those decisions.

“You’ve advocated for certain businesses — you’ve advocated for certain businesses to be shut down. I’m just asking you on your position on the protest,” Jordan continued. “I haven’t seen one — we’ve heard a lot about hair salons. I haven’t see one hairstylist who between haircuts goes out and attacks police or sets something on fire but we’ve seen all kinds of that stuff during protests and we know the protests actually increase the spread of the virus. You said that.”

“I said crowds. I didn’t say specifically. I didn’t say protests,” Fauci said, prompting Jordan to respond with, “So the protests don’t increase the spread of the virus?”

“I didn’t say that,” Fauci shot back. “You’re putting words in my mouth.”

Fauci continued to say that crowds lead to the spread of the virus, especially when masks are not worn, but reiterated that he would not reveal a specific stance on the protests.

Watch above, via CNN.

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