Anthony Fauci Gets Death Threats After Marjorie Taylor Greene's Remarks

Dr. Anthony Fauci has said that Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's vocal criticisms of him during a congressional hearing on the COVID-19 pandemic had increased the number of death threats against him.

Fauci, who was the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for 38 years before retiring in 2022, testified voluntarily on Monday before a GOP-led subcommittee that has spent more than a year probing the nation's response to the pandemic. Fauci was the public face of the government's early response to COVID-19.

Monday's hearing quickly deteriorated into partisan attacks, with Fauci facing the most hostility from Greene, a Georgia Republican. She refused to address him as "doctor," called for him to be prosecuted "for crimes against humanity" and said he "belongs in prison."

Dr. Fauci: “Immediately, like clockwork, the death threats go way up. That’s the reason why I'm still getting death threats. When you have performances like that unusual performance by Marjorie Taylor Greene…Those are the kind of things that drive up the death threats.” pic.twitter.com/PdusmzepYb — Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) June 4, 2024

Commenting on the hearing, Fauci told CNN whenever someone in the media or in Congress "gets up and makes a public statement that I'm responsible for the deaths of X number of people because of policies or some crazy idea that I created the virus, immediately... it's like clockwork, the death threats go way up.

"So that's the reason why I'm still getting death threats. When you have performances like that unusual performance by Marjorie Taylor Greene in today's hearing, those are the kind of things that drive up the death threats because there are a segment of the population out there that believe that kind of nonsense."

Marjorie Taylor Greene at the Capitol building in Washington D.C. in April. Dr. Anthony Fauci speaking before a House subcommittee on Monday. Fauci said that Greene's vocal criticisms of him during the congressional hearing had... Marjorie Taylor Greene at the Capitol building in Washington D.C. in April. Dr. Anthony Fauci speaking before a House subcommittee on Monday. Fauci said that Greene's vocal criticisms of him during the congressional hearing had increased the number of death threats he receives. More Chip Somodevilla/Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

During Monday's hearing, Greene said: "Mr. Fauci, cause you're not 'doctor,' you're Mr. Fauci in my few minutes… That man does not deserve to have a license. As a matter of fact, it should be revoked, and he belongs in prison."

She also repeatedly talked over Fauci during her questioning, including at one point cutting him off, saying: "Nah, I don't need your answer."

Newsweek has contacted Greene's office for comment via email.

During Monday's hearing, Fauci described the death threats he and his family had received while director of the NIAID.

In response to a question from Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell, Fauci said he had received "everything from harassments by emails, texts, letters of myself, my wife, my three daughters."

He added that "there have been credible death threats, leading to the arrests of two individuals... and credible death threats means someone who was clearly on their way to kill me. And it's required my having protective services essentially all the time."

Update 6/4/24, 3 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.