RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Topline Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback and noted COVID-19 vaccine skeptic Aaron Rodgers blasted Dr. Anthony Fauci on Monday, calling the infectious disease expert an “absolute coward” days after he repeatedly pleaded the Fifth during highly contentious Senate testimony last week.
Talk show host and former NFL player Pat McAfee asked Rodgers about his mindset entering his last season in the league, to which Rodgers replied, “I'm gonna plead the Fifth. Like that absolute coward Tony Fauci.”
Fauci testified in front of a Senate committee last week after Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., published his diary entries from 2019 to 2022, refusing to answer questions and invoking his Fifth Amendment rights.
“You got a pardon and you pleaded over 100 times?” Rodgers said, adding, “What are you scared of Tony?”
Rodgers suggested Fauci’s testimony was barely covered by the media, and contrasted the coverage with how Rodgers said he was reported on in 2022, when he intentionally misled the media about his COVID-19 vaccination status.
“What are they going to say about me now?” Rodgers asked, seemingly challenging critics before McAfee reminded him the interview was nearing its end.
Fauci’s diary contained criticisms of President Donald Trump and early musings about the source of COVID-19, noting early data found the Huanan wet market, which has been theorized as the source, was instead an “amplifier” of the illness. Paul alleged the diary entries show Fauci gave conflicting accounts about COVID-19 between his diary and what he said publicly about the illness, with critics pointing out his claim in 2022 he was not involved with school closures. Diary entries from Fauci said he "convinced" New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to close schools in 2020. Fauci gave brief opening remarks at the testimony, saying Paul had an “unhinged obsession with me,” before refusing to answer dozens of questions about COVID-19, lockdown policies and U.S.-funded research in China. Paul has threatened to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress following the testimony.
Rodgers said in a 2021 podcast interview with Joe Rogan he was “immunized” ahead of the 2021 NFL season. It was revealed that season he was not vaccinated against COVID-19, with Rodgers claiming he was allergic to a part of the vaccine and that he took ivermectin to treat a COVID infection. Clinical trials have shown ivermectin is not effective against COVID-19 . The NFL did not require players to be vaccinated against COVID-19 for that season, though Rodgers violated a league protocol prohibiting unmasked group gatherings of more than three players when he attended an off-site Halloween party. He was also fined for not wearing face coverings during indoor press conferences. In another appearance on Rogan’s show in 2022, Rodgers admitted to misleading the media about his COVID-19 vaccination status when he said he was “immunized.” He likened the media attention on him to a “witch hunt” and claimed if a reporter would have asked a follow-up question about his “immunized” comment, he would have said he is “not an anti-vax flat earther,” but a “critical thinker.”
Aaron Rodgers Claims He’s Allergic To Covid-19 MRNA Vaccines, Says He’s Taking Ivermectin After Testing Positive (Forbes)
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