Comedian and talk show host Bill Maher has accused former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci of telling “actual lies” about the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic virus, responsible for over seven million confirmed deaths worldwide. This criticism comes after Faucci invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination 111 times during a Senate hearing over his handling of the crisis. Maher highlighted Fauce's previous assertions that the virus originated through animal-to-human contact at a wet market in Wuhan, China. He also challenged the controversy surrounding the lab leak theory, which has been supported by President Trump, and suggested its merit was due to social issues rather than scientific evidence.