Former CBS News journalist Brittney Hopper has stated that she was reprimanded by CBS for wanting to question Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hopper, who worked for CBS News Los Angeles until 2022, appeared on News24 in Australia to discuss Fauci's recent congressional hearing where he invoked his Fifth Amendment rights over 100 times, refusing to answer questions. She reflected on her extensive COVID reporting during her time at CBS and criticized the mainstream media for largely supporting Fauci despite evidence contradicting some of his recommendations.

She highlighted that Fauci, despite claims in 2022 that he did not endorse COVID lockdowns, had written in several 2020 diary entries recommending lockdowns to city, state, and federal officials, including then-President Donald Trump. Hopper expressed that Fauci's refusal to answer questions during the hearing reveals a lack of knowledge during the pandemic.

Hopper's comments underscore ongoing debates about media coverage and public health messaging during the COVID-19 crisis.

Sources