Scientists rally to defend Fauci against inaccurate, unscientific and baseless criticism

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Dozens of scientists and medical professionals have signed a letter of support for Dr Anthony Fauci following the fierce criticism he faced from Republican lawmakers this week.

In the letter, Dr Fauci, one of the leading infectious disease experts in the United States and chief medical adviser to the White House, is congratulated on his 40 years of service to the country through HIV, Ebola and now Covid .

The letter, a copy of which was obtained by Politico, reads: We deplore the personal attacks on Dr Fauci. The criticism is inaccurate, unscientific, unfounded in fact and, increasingly, motivated by partisan politics. It’s a distraction from what should be the national goal of working together to finally overcome a pandemic that kills an estimated 500,000 people a year.

We are grateful for Dr Faucis’ dedication and tireless efforts to help the country weather this pandemic and other health crises, the scientists write.

The letter came following heated discussions with Senators Rand Paul of Kentucky and Roger Marshall of Kansas during a Senate hearing on the federal response to new variants of Covid-19.

It happens all the time, Dr Fauci told Senator Paul. You attack me personally, without the slightest proof of what you are saying. So I would like to clarify one thing for the committee: you are doing this for political reasons.

The doctor was also surprised by a hot mic calling Senator Marshall an asshole during an exchange in which the Kansas lawmaker said he was unable to find Dr’s financial disclosure forms. Faucis seemed to imply that he was somehow profiting from his role in government.

I don’t understand why you are asking me this question, Dr Fauci said to Mr Marshall. My financial disclosure is common knowledge and has been for the past 37 years or so.

In the letter, Dr Faucis’ contemporaries say: He has our wholehearted respect and trust as a scientist and national leader.

Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr Fauci has provided America’s political leaders and the public with sound advice during these most difficult times, they write. His advice was as knowledgeable as the data and rapidly changing circumstances allowed. And most importantly, he gave his advice with humility, being clear about what we know and what is unknown, but requires judgment. He has always insisted on the importance of wearing a mask, social distancing and vaccination. These are standard and necessary public health measures that we all support.

The letter continues: Scientists can and do express divergent views, but the right to an opinion does not mean that the opinion is right. We are grateful to Dr. Fauci for consistently exposing science in a way that represents the facts as they emerge, without unwarranted speculation.

Unfortunately, in these politically polarized times when disinformation is contaminating the United States’ response to the pandemic, routine public health measures have become needlessly controversial, undermining the effectiveness of our nation’s response.

Politico reports that the letter was initiated by former Biden transition adviser Ezekiel Emanual and Cornell Universities John Moore.

The list of signatories includes former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a Republican from Tennessee; three Nobel Prize winners; the former president of Princeton University and many other renowned academics, physicians and scientists.

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