“You Belong in Prison, Dr. Fauci” Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Refusal to Acknowledge Fauci’s Title Sparks Heated Exchange in Congress
Photograph: Lenin Nolly/SOPA Images/REX/Shutterstock
A heated debate erupted during a House Oversight Committee hearing on the origins of COVID-19 when Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) refused to address former National Institutes of Health Director Anthony Fauci by his professional title. The incident highlighted tensions between political parties and raised questions about decorum in Congress.
The conflict began when Greene addressed Fauci, questioning his conduct during the pandemic. “Do the American people deserve to be abused like that, Mr. Fauci?” she asked. “Because you’re not doctor, you’re Mr. Fauci in my few minutes.”
This prompted an interruption from Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), who challenged Greene’s refusal to acknowledge Fauci’s medical title, asking the committee chairman, “Mr. Chairman, just in terms of the rules of decorum, are we allowed to deny that a doctor is a doctor just because we don’t want him to be a doctor?”
Greene responded defiantly, asserting that Fauci did not deserve his title and suggesting he belonged in prison. “Yes, because in my time, that man does not deserve to have a license,” she declared. “As a matter of fact, it should be revoked, and he belongs in prison.”
Chairman Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) intervened, instructing Greene to adhere to proper decorum by recognizing Fauci’s credentials. “The gentlelady should recognize the doctor as a doctor,” Wenstrup stated, attempting to restore order to the proceedings, as per reports Axios.
A Democratic member expressed frustration over the decline in decorum, criticizing Greene’s behavior as “completely unacceptable” and indicative of a personal attack against Fauci, who he noted was a respected member of the medical community.
Despite Wenstrup’s efforts to mediate the situation and his instructions to Greene to address Fauci properly, she remained adamant: “I’m not addressing him as a doctor.”
The exchange prompted calls from Democratic members to formally take down Greene’s words, a procedural move in Congress used to censure inappropriate remarks. “We should have to take her words down,” a Democrat demanded.
As the debate continued, Greene tried to shift the focus, accusing Democrats of hypocrisy: “Mr. Chairman, I’d like to make a point of order,” she interrupted. “Because they accused us of worshipping President Trump. We don’t worship President Trump.”
Wenstrup, striving to maintain control, reiterated the importance of respect in the chamber. “The chair overrules the point of order by the gentleman from Maryland but asks that members please afford all other members the respect they’re entitled, refrain from using rhetoric that could be construed as an attack on the motives or character of another member, or the witness,” he added.
Despite the chairman’s plea for civility, Greene concluded her remarks with a direct statement to Fauci: “You belong in prison, Dr. Fauci,” she said, continuing to challenge the norms of Congressional discourse.
