Fauci indicated his lawyers believed Paul intended to entrap him in a slip-up that could result in perjury charges. The senator insists Fauci lied about that to Congress, which he has repeatedly denied. Fauci has maintained that the virus had natural origins, even if he's said he is open to the idea of a lab leak. Some panel lawmakers criticized the proceedings, including Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan, who said the hearing was designed to "entrap" Fauci. Rather, the text depicts Fauci grappling with the escalating public health crisis as scientific hypotheses were rapidly evolving.