House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has accused former Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra of failing to turn over Dr. Anthony Fauci's COVID-19 pandemic-era diary and cellphone to Congress. In a letter sent Monday, Comer stated that Becerra, who is now a candidate for governor of California, did not include any portion of Fauci's diary in response to a November 2, 2023, request that specifically asked for records containing terms like "COVID-19," "gain-of-function," and "Wuhan."
"The Committee is concerned that you either intentionally withheld this information, or that you failed to conduct an adequate search of the Department’s systems as requested in the November 2, 2023, letter," Comer wrote. The committee is demanding answers from Becerra by September 2, including whether he was aware of the diary's existence, why it was not produced in the initial request, and if any Biden administration officials pressured him to withhold information.
Fauci's COVID-era diary and cellphone were eventually turned over to Senators Rand Paul and Ron Johnson earlier this year by current HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The diary entries, which span over 1,000 pages, offer insights into Fauci's private thoughts during the pandemic and his reflections on his public profile. Critics have pointed to diary entries that suggest Fauci discussed school closures with political leaders, citing one 2020 entry where Fauci states he "convinced" then-New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to close city schools.
During a Senate hearing in late July, Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times when questioned by Republicans about the pandemic's impact and revelations from his diary. Previously, in a June 2024 House hearing, Fauci stated that the CDC, not himself, was responsible for guidelines regarding school closures. However, he also acknowledged during that hearing that his former adviser, David Morens, had inappropriately edited a press release concerning grant funding and violated federal health policy by altering a letter sent to the National Institutes of Health.
Morens has since pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conceal COVID-19 records related to grant funding. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has stated that if Dr. Fauci is convicted of perjury, he could face up to five years in state prison, based on a joint probe conducted by Louisiana, Florida, and West Virginia. Fox News Digital reached out to Becerra's gubernatorial campaign for a response.