In a stunning turn of events, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has called for the arrest and prosecution of Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser to President Joe Biden, following the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) admission of funding risky research in Wuhan, China.

The NIH's principal deputy director, Lawrence Tabak, admitted during a House subcommittee hearing that the US government had provided funding for "gain-of-function" research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. This research involved modifying bat coronaviruses shortly before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in late 2019.

Musk took to Twitter, demanding the prosecution of Fauci and sharing The Post's front page, which featured a photo of Fauci with the headline "SICK LIES." While Musk did not specify the charges Fauci should face, perjury and lying to Congress have been suggested by Republican lawmakers.

During his testimony to Congress in May 2021, Fauci emphatically denied that the NIH funded gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. However, Tabak's statement contradicted this claim, raising questions about a potential cover-up of US funding for the Chinese labs suspected of the virus's release.

It remains uncertain if additional charges could result from the alleged cover-up and the economic, social, and educational consequences caused by the pandemic. The virus has claimed the lives of over 1,190,546 US residents and wreaked havoc worldwide.

Fauci, who served as President Biden's chief medical adviser from 2021 to 2022, was hailed as a source of reason and health guidance during the early stages of the pandemic. However, critics, including allies of former President Donald Trump, pointed out inconsistencies in Fauci's recommendations, such as conflicting advice on mask-wearing.

Documents released by the Intercept in late 2021 revealed that the nonprofit organization EcoHealth Alliance, based in Manhattan, used grants from the NIH to support experiments at the Wuhan Institute of Virology involving the modification of three bat coronaviruses distinct from COVID-19. As a result of these revelations, the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the NIH, has barred EcoHealth from receiving federal funding for the next three years.

The origins of COVID-19 remain a mystery due to China's refusal to allow an independent international investigation. However, some parts of the US government, including the FBI and the Energy Department, believe that the pandemic may have resulted from a lab leak in China.

While President Biden has not made extensive comments on determining the origins of the virus, former President Trump has proposed seeking "reparations" of $10 trillion from China. As the situation unfolds, the public awaits further developments regarding Musk's call for Fauci's arrest and the ongoing investigation into the virus's origins.