Rather than simply declining to answer, Fauci opened the hearing with a pointed statement accusing Paul of weaponizing the proceeding against him. The hearing also produced a dramatic sideshow when Paul ordered Fauci’s attorney, David Schertler, removed from the room after he repeatedly tried to speak without being recognized. Paul noted that Fauci would still have “the advice of the other half a dozen attorneys” he brought with him. Whether the CIA transferred funds to NIH, or whether NIH coordinated research with intelligence agencies. Awareness of alleged gain-of-function work on monkeypox at Fort Detrick and any classified biodefense special-access programs.