VIDEO: Fauci spars with Sen. Rand Paul: 'You don't know what you're talking about!'

WASHINGTON — The gloves are off!

Dr. Anthony Fauci and Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky sparred during a Senate Health Committee hearing Tuesday morning about the federal COVID-10 response, with the president's chief medical adviser charging, "Senator Paul, you do not know what you are talking about, and I want to say that officially."

Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, speaks during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee confirmation hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, July 20, 2021. The top U.S. infectious-disease expert yesterday said the delta variant of the coronavirus is causing a significant increase in infections and the Biden administration is "practically pleading" with people to get vaccinated. Photographer: J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, speaks during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee confirmation hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, July 20, 2021. The top U.S. infectious-disease expert yesterday said the delta variant of the coronavirus is causing a significant increase in infections and the Biden administration is "practically pleading" with people to get vaccinated. Photo credit J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Fauci accused Paul of lying about the role the National Institutes of Health (NIH) played in funding research at a lab in Wuhan, China, where some believe the potentially-deadly virus took root.

Paul claimed the NIH funded illegal gain of function research in the Wuhan Institute of Virology -- an accusation the lawmaker has made before, which Fauci has also denied before.

"You are implying that what we did resulted in the deaths of individuals,” Fauci responded as he pointed his finger at Paul. “I totally resent that, and if anyone is lying here senator, it is you. I totally resent the lie you are now propagating, senator."

Rand even implied that Fauci was lying, saying, “Fauci, as you are aware it is a crime to lie to Congress.”

Fauci wasn't having it, and said he would not retract anything. “I have not lied before Congress. I have never lied. Certainly not before Congress. Case closed."

Related

Fauci, Paul clash on virus origins, trade charges of lying
Fauci, Paul clash on virus origins, trade charges of lying
Featured Image Photo Credit: Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, speaks during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee confirmation hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, July 20, 2021. The top U.S. infectious-disease expert yesterday said the delta variant of the coronavirus is causing a significant increase in infections and the Biden administration is "practically pleading" with people to get vaccinated. Photographer: J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo/Bloomberg via Getty Images