Dr. Anthony Fauci, the longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, in a wide-ranging interview that aired Sunday said the political attacks against him are nothing more than "nonsense" and "noise." 

"So anybody spins lies and threatens and all that theater that goes on with some of the investigations and the congressional committees and the Rand Pauls and all that other nonsense, that's noise," Fauci said during an appearance on CBS News' "Face the Nation."

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, on Sunday called Dr. Anthony Fauci an "unelected technocrat who has distorted science and facts in order to exercise authoritarian control over millions of Americans" after Fauci blasted Cruz for suggesting he be investigated for statements he made about COVID-19.

"He lives in a liberal world where his smug 'I REPRESENT science' attitude is praised," Cruz tweeted.

The lawmaker also called for the Justice Department to investigate Fauci for making false statements to Congress.

Dr. Anthony Fauci got a bit snarky towards one of his loudest Republican critics on Sunday, firing back at Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s demand that Attorney General Merrick Garland prosecute the nation’s top infectious disease expert. During a wide-ranging sit-down with CBS News anchor Margaret Brennan, Fauci dismissed the political “theater” coming from GOP lawmakers such as Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), who has called for Fauci to be arrested while accusing him of being responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.