Texas Senate Democratic Nominee James Talarico's past praise for Dr. Anthony Fauci has resurfaced, sparking controversy and ridicule from his opponents.
A years-old tweet from Talarico's account shows him idolizing Fauci with a Christmas action figure on December 25, 2021.
In the tweet, Talarico thanked "health care superheroes" and encouraged his followers to get vaccinated and boosted.
The post has gained renewed attention after Dr. Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right more than 100 times during a Senate hearing on Wednesday, prompting calls for him to be held in contempt.
Talarico's past comments on Fauci have raised eyebrows, particularly after Fauci's recent failure to answer questions about the COVID pandemic and his handling of the crisis.
Senator Rand and Rep. Brandon Gill have both criticized Talarico's past praise for Fauci, suggesting that he may still hold the action figure in high esteem.
Senator Ted Cruz also weighed in, tweeting that Talarico had called Fauci a "superhero" only to see him invoke his Fifth Amendment right repeatedly during the Senate hearing.
