Rep. Jim Jordan clashes with Anthony Fauci over ‘freedom’ at House hearing

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ohio’s Rep. Jim Jordan got into a shouting match at a Wednesday hearing of the House Select Committee on the Coronavirus where he repeatedly asked National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci when Americans will “get their freedoms back.”

“Fifteen days to slow the spread turned into one year of lost liberty,” Jordan said before asking Fauci: “What metrics, what measures, what has to happen before Americans get more freedoms?”

After Fauci told him that precautions to prevent spreading he virus can be lifted after the nation vaccinates as many people as soon as it can and infections decrease, Jordan again demanded “What measure, what standard, what objective outcome, do we have to reach before before Americans get their liberty and freedoms back?” He declared “First Amendment rights,” and rights to attend church, petition one’s government, freedom of the press and freedom of speech have “all been assaulted.”

“I don’t look at this as a liberty thing,” Fauci replied as Jordan interjected “That’s obvious.”

“It’s a public health thing,” Fauci continued, accusing Jordan of turning the issue into a “personal thing… We have about 60,000 infections a day which is a very large risk for a surge. We’re not talking about liberties. We’re talking about a pandemic that has killed 560,000 Americans.

“What you’re going to see as more and more people get vaccinated, and we get over 3 million people a day, you’re going to see the level of infection come down and down and gradually there will be more flexibility for doing the things that you’re talking about,” Fauci continued.

The Champaign County Republican repeatedly demanded that Fauci supply him with concrete criteria for lifting restrictions, even after his time for questioning Fauci expired and the committee’s chairman, South Carolina Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn, gaveled down Jordan.

“You need to respect the chair and shut your mouth,” California Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters said to Jordan.

Click here to watch video of their exchange.

Read more:

Rep. Jim Jordan joins effort to cancel Major League Baseball’s antitrust exemption after its decision to move the All-Star game

Cleveland nonprofit gets federal grant to help local manufacturers respond to the coronavirus pandemic

John Boehner’s political memoir disses Trump and Tea Party but avoids Ohio controversies

White House says Biden infrastructure bill would improve Ohio’s roads and bridges

HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge releases $5 billion to fight homelessness

Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur joins Capitol riot lawsuit against Donald Trump, Proud Boys and Oath Keepers

Sen. Sherrod Brown wants repeal of corporate tax provisions he says export jobs

Nina Turner collects $2.2 million for congressional bid

Jim Jordan’s campaign explains large errors on its Federal Election Commission reports

Former Ohio GOP chair Jane Timken raises $2.1 million for U.S. Senate bid1/4

Planned Parenthood sues Ohio over its telemedicine abortion ban