Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is urging Dr. Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Insitute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, to not hold back during his Senate testimony.
“The American people need to hear from experts in a fair, open, and truthful setting,” Schumer said on Monday, adding, “Until now, we’ve mostly heard from the members of the coronavirus task force through the distorted lens of the White House press conference.”
“Where the president often prevents them from answering fully, interrupts their response, or even contradicts their fact-based advice,” he continued.
“This will be one of the first opportunities for Dr. Fauci to tell the American people the unvarnished truth without the president lurking over his shoulder. Dr. Fauci, let it rip,” Schumer added.
Watch the video below:
Sen. Chuck Schumer advises Dr. Fauci to “let it rip” during his testimony before the Senate on Tuesday:
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) May 11, 2020
"This will be one of the first opportunities for Dr. Fauci to tell the American people the unvarnished truth without the president lurking over his shoulder." pic.twitter.com/FyTcoGxXT7
Fauci is set to testify before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Tuesday via teleconference, as IJR reported.
He will be joined by the Centers for Disease Control Prevention Director Robert Redfield, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Stephen Hahn, and coronavirus testing coordinator Brett Giroir.
House Democrats have previously requested that Fauci testify before a subcommittee, but that request was rejected.
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany called the request a “publicity stunt” and urged House lawmakers to act in “good faith,” as IJR reported.
Additionally, President Donald Trump said he did not want Fauci to testify before the House. He said, “The House is a setup. The House is a bunch of Trump-haters.”