Dr. Anthony Fauci claimed that he has a completely “open mind” about the origins of the COVID-19 virus, but says that the science points to other origins.

Fauci’s comments came on Sunday’s appearance of CBS “Face the Nation.” Fauci was asked by host Margaret Brennan about China’s behavior throughout the pandemic, specifically about their reluctance to provide information and be transparent about the virus’s origins.

“We keep a completely open mind as to what the origin is,” Fauci said. “Having said that, if you look at the examination by highly qualified international scientists with no political agendas — they’ve published in peer-reviewed journals — that all accumulated evidence, particularly relating to the Chinese bringing into the Wuhan market animals from the wild that should not have been there … the evidence is quite strong that this is a natural occurrence.”

“Does that mean we’ve ruled out that there was something funny going on and it leaked? Absolutely [not],” he added. “I and all of my colleagues keep an absolutely open mind. We’ve got to investigate every possibility because this is too important not to do that. That’s not incompatible with saying the scientific evidence still weighs much more strongly that this is a natural occurrence.”

Fauci criticized China’s lack of transparency regarding the virus’s origins and said that China’s behavor was suspicious, though he fell short of accusing the communist nation of a “cover up.”

Fox News reports that, “While Fauci is retiring from his position at the top of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in December, Republicans are sure to keep him on Capitol Hill with hearings. GOP lawmakers have called for investigations into Fauci’s handling of the pandemic as well as his interactions with Chinese health authorities.”

Fauci has said that he will testify before the House in front of Dr. Rand Paul, who said. “I will not only hold Dr. Fauci accountable, we will finally investigate why your tax dollars were sent to fund dangerous research in Wuhan. I promise you this: the COVID cover-up will end.”