RedState has been driving the news cycle surrounding Dr. Anthony Fauci’s connections to the Wuhan Institute of Virology and funding that went there for gain-of-function testing. The obvious indication here is that Fauci, via grants he did not exercise proper oversight of, actually played a role in COVID-19 being developed and released into the world.

Scott Hounsell has covered that topic extensively, recently noting that Fauci’s denials to Sen. Rand Paul appeared to be a lie (see Dr. Fauci’s Testimony to Rand Paul on ‘Gain-of-Function’ Research Certainly Seems Like It Was Untrue). His article is extremely thorough so make sure and go read it.

Here’s his conclusion:

There are those who state that the funding that went to EcoHealth Alliance was for something other than gain-of-function research; however, as stated above, the purpose of the funding was to study coronaviruses in bats and how they could infect people. In other words, the entire purpose of the grant was to enable the study of coronaviruses in a lab the US State Department had been warned was unsafe and in which documented gain-of-function research was being conducted.

As an aside, NIH announced in December 2017 that it was lifting the moratorium on gain-of-function research. It has been reported that Fauci ordered the resumption of funding without consulting the White House or, by extension, the HHS, which is required under the gain-of-function research guidelines.

In closing, Dr. Fauci’s statements to Senator Paul are misinformed at best. We are left with very few options as to Dr. Fauci’s misstatements. Either Dr. Fauci intentionally lied to Senator Paul or, as a result of his incompetence, doesn’t know or understand what research the NIH is funding and where.

It looks like Scott’s painstaking research and highlighting of the issue has paid off because Fauci is now suddenly changing his tune. While speaking to Sen. John Kennedy, the supposed “top doctor” in regards to COVID began to hedge, now claiming that there’s “no way of guaranteeing” that the funding in question didn’t go toward gain-of-function research to produce COVID-19.

Fauci now admits that "there's no way of guaranteeing" American taxpayer money he routed to the Wuhan virology lab didn't fund "gain-of-function" research pic.twitter.com/fNsGXWbH79

— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) May 26, 2021

Fauci’s original denial was not nuanced. In his attempt to embarrass Rand Paul and create another “yasss king” moment for the media, Fauci pointedly said that no NIH funding went toward gain-of-function research.

“Sen. Paul, with all due respect, you are entirely and completely incorrect that the NIH has not ever and does not now fund gain-of-function research in the Wuhan Institute of Virology.”

This latest admission sure makes it seem as if he committed perjury given he is now admitting he does know if funding went to gain-of-function research.

Now, I suppose Fauci could claim ignorance, but if he claims ignorance, why did he lie about his lack of knowledge in response to Paul, instead speaking in absolutes? What does he have to hide? Those are serious questions that need answers. Once we get them, it’ll likely explain why Fauci turned into such an anti-Trump force. That may have been a self-preservation play knowing that he was partially responsible for the virus he was now heading up the response to. After all, if you oppose Trump, you get a pass for everything else. That’s the Washington way.

Fauci is a snake, and if there were any justice within our system, he’d have already been forced into retirement or worse. But there isn’t so he can lie to Congress with impunity while garnering glowing press coverage in response.