NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya accused former NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci of abusing his influence during the COVID-19 pandemic by suppressing scientific debate and criticizing researchers who disagreed with him.

Bhattacharya, who opposed lockdowns and some pandemic restrictions, argued that Fauci acted beyond his role as a research leader and shaped public health policy without sufficient evidence.

The accusations came after Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment rights during a Senate hearing focused on his pandemic decisions and recently released journal entries.

Bhattacharya said Fauci’s private writings showed a difference between his personal views and his public statements, particularly regarding school closures, CBS News has reported.

Fauci has defended his pandemic guidance, saying early school closures were appropriate but acknowledging that keeping schools closed for extended periods was harmful.