WASHINGTON, D.C. — Dr. Anthony Fauci, often considered the face of America’s public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic—gave testimony in two private seven-hour interviews on Monday and Tuesday before the House Select Subcommittee on the coronavirus pandemic.

This was the second time the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has testified before the subcommittee as it investigates the origins of the virus.

Rep. Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio, who chairs the subcommittee, said in a statement after the first day of testimony that the interview had uncovered “drastic and systemic failures in America’s public health systems.”

Fauci did not answer a question on whether he had any response to that allegation during a break from the hearing.

Wenstrup and other Republicans have criticized Fauci for the government’s handling of the pandemic.

“We’re trying to be positive toward what we can do better in the future, and what was done, who said what, who’s responsible for what, who’s got oversight over what, because the system didn’t really seem to have a clear flow,” Wenstrup said.

Republicans have also questioned the origins of the virus amid reports that it may have come from a lab in Wuhan, China.

In June 2022, Fauci publicly testified that though a lab leak was possible, the consensus in the virology community pointed to the virus likely originating from an animal.

Wenstrup said Fauci seemed to be more open to the lab leak theory in his testimony this week.

“I had the opportunity to get into the science with Dr. Fauci, comparing nature versus possibly contrived in a lab, all those things, and I think it really opened eyes we need more discussion on this, and he agreed on that,” Wenstrup said.

Democratic Ranking Member Raul Ruiz, D-Calif., said the interview only reaffirmed previous conclusions, writing in a statement:

“…There was no cover-up of COVID-19’s origins nor a suppression of the lab leak theory on [Fauci’s] part… Today, we are no closer to better understanding how COVID-19 came to be.”

Subcommittee Democrats said the hearing had become too politicized.

“Republicans have remained focused on Jan. and Feb. 2020, rather than using this incredible opportunity to talk to a longtime public servant and health expert who has served this country with distinction for decades to get to lessons learned from COVID-19 and how we protect Americans and protect our communities,” said Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Fl.

Wenstrup said while determining the origins of the virus remains important, the subcommittee is also working on policy recommendations to make the government better prepared to handle any future pandemics.

A transcript of the private proceedings will be made public at some point, and Fauci is expected to be invited to testify publicly again.