Newly obtained emails are raising fresh concerns about Dr. Anthony Fauci’s transparency during his time leading the federal COVID-19 response.
Released this week by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, the documents appear to contradict Fauci’s sworn testimony and have intensified calls for him to return to Capitol Hill for questioning.
Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul (R), one of Fauci’s sharpest critics, has accused the former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director of misleading lawmakers.
Paul forwarded the emails to Fauci and requested that he appear before lawmakers to explain the inconsistencies, giving him two weeks to respond.
One of the most damaging revelations comes from a February 2, 2020 email in which Fauci instructed then-NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins to “Please delete this e-mail after you read it.”
Another email dated July 20, 2020, shows Fauci telling an NIH employee, “I do not want to engage any more with this nonsense. And so, please delete this e-mail after you read it.”
These directives seem to conflict with Fauci’s testimony before the House Select Subcommittee in June 2024, when he denied ever deleting correspondence about the Wuhan lab or the origins of the virus.
Trending Politics reports that the Homeland Security Committee has provided dates in October, November and December for when Fauci is expected to appear.
Paul says the committee is determined to hold him accountable and clarify how decisions were made during the pandemic.
Paul has also criticized federal funding of gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, arguing U.S. taxpayer dollars may have contributed to experiments that influenced the outbreak.
Fauci’s role in shaping lockdowns, mask mandates and school closures has also drawn scrutiny.
Paul and other critics argue these policies caused long-term economic and social impacts.
“We’re looking at their communications and ultimately the decisions of this committee, we believe, had to be certified by Anthony Fauci himself,” Paul said.
Beyond the emails, Fauci has faced other controversies.
Resist the Mainstream previously reported about claims surfacing which alleged his involvement in studies on hormone therapy in monkeys, sometimes mischaracterized as “transgender monkey experiments.”
Whether Fauci will face legal consequences remains uncertain.
Days before leaving office, former President Joe Biden granted him a preemptive pardon covering pandemic-related decisions.
That pardon is now under scrutiny after congressional investigators revealed it may not have been personally signed by Biden.
Instead, officials acknowledged the presidential autopen—a device that reproduces the president’s signature—was used.
While the autopen has legal precedent for routine matters, its use for something as significant as a preemptive pardon is unprecedented, prompting debate over whether the document carries full constitutional authority.
Lawmakers are now weighing whether the pardon could be challenged in court, leaving Fauci’s legal protection in limbo.
Despite the potential shield, Paul has vowed to continue his pursuit.
“I think the American people deserve the truth about what happened and why decisions were made the way they were,” he said.
Fauci’s decisions, emails and broader record remain under intense scrutiny, ensuring the former NIAID director’s actions continue to be a focus of congressional and public attention.
