Following a reported no-show from Democratic leadership, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) led an explosive first-ever congressional hearing on gain-of-function research Wednesday afternoon. It revealed new alarming information about how taxpayer dollars have funded the controversial virus-enhancing practice and if such super-charging of viruses in lab experiments led to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. Paul acted as chairman when zero Senate Democrats bothered to show up, per The Daily Signal, even Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH), the subcommittee chairwoman whose name was listed on the hearing’s schedule.