Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has subpoenaed Dr. Anthony Fauci to testify before the Senate concerning the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. Paul accused Fauci of delaying his appearance before the Senate Homeland Security Committee and stated that the subpoena would compel his testimony in July.
Paul, in his capacity as committee chairman, issued his first unilateral subpoena, a power the committee granted him last year. The senator has previously alleged that Fauci misled Congress and the public about the origins of the virus, particularly concerning U.S.-funded research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China.
During a congressional hearing on May 11, 2021, Fauci stated, "The NIH has not ever and does not now fund gain-of-function research in the Wuhan Institute of Virology." However, documents later surfaced suggesting that Fauci met with CIA officials weeks after this statement and discussed research related to the virus. A whistleblower complaint reportedly alleged that Fauci had lied to Congress about this research.
Paul also indicated he intends to question Fauci about a pardon issued by then-President Joe Biden before he left office. "There will be questions about did he seek the pardon, what specific crimes did he seek, did he ever meet with President Biden," Paul said, adding that he questions the validity of a pardon for a non-specific crime.
Paul expressed his expectation that Fauci might challenge the subpoena in court, stating, "I think it’s going to be a challenge to get him. I think we will have to fight him in court." He emphasized the necessity of Fauci's testimony.
This action follows renewed scrutiny of Fauci's role in the pandemic response after the release of files that reportedly showed officials shielding Fauci from a whistleblower complaint regarding allegations of lying about "gain of function" research. The complaint reportedly referenced exchanges between Fauci and Paul during congressional hearings in 2021, including a heated exchange on July 20, 2021, where Paul confronted Fauci about his earlier statement regarding NIH funding in Wuhan. Fauci denied lying and stated, "I have never lied before the Congress. And I do not retract that statement."