Lisa McClain

Rep. Lisa McClain criticized Dr. Anthony Fauci on Wednesday evening over transparency regarding COVID-19 vaccine data for pregnant women.

During an appearance on Fox Business, McClain accused Dr. Fauci of withholding risks, claiming that “82% of women who received a COVID-19 vaccine up to their second trimester suffered a miscarriage.”

McClain, a Republican who represents Michigan’s 9th Congressional District, became the fourth-highest-ranking Republican in the U.S. House when she was elected chair of the House Republican Conference in 2024. She was endorsed by President Donald Trump in 2022.

The congresswoman’s comments follow released texts from Dr. Fauci to his colleagues during the pandemic, in which he discussed possible concerns about miscarriage.

But subsequent research found no increased risk of miscarriage associated with the COVID-19 vaccination, and the CDC later recommended it during pregnancy. The 82% figure stems from a misreading of data from The New England Journal of Medicine.

“It’s disgusting, and it’s criminal — in my opinion. As a mother, I can’t imagine being pregnant, listening to the man in charge straight up lie to the American people,” McClain said during the Aug. 11 Fox Business show. “In fact, I think he actually said that there was never a risk to pregnancy.”

According to The Associated Press, a Senate committee voted along party lines Aug. 6 to hold Dr. Fauci in contempt of Congress over his refusal to answer questions at a hearing on his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.