Sen. Ron Johnson Vows to Hold Fauci Accountable, Outlines Senate Filibuster Strategy

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., stated his intention to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci accountable for the COVID-19 pandemic response during a recent interview on the "Ruthless" podcast. Johnson described the pandemic response as "miserably failed" and "freedom robbing."

"It didn't work. I mean, it simply didn't work. And the fact that Fauci has skated now for six years without accountability, this begins that accountability," Johnson said.

As chair of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Johnson authored a report alleging the Biden administration misled the public about the pandemic. The interview followed the release of Dr. Fauci's daily journal entries by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, led by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. These entries chronicle Fauci's interactions with the Trump and Biden administrations and his views on the virus' origins.

Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), served on COVID task forces under both Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden, and was Biden's chief medical advisor until his departure in 2022. He is scheduled to testify before a Senate Homeland Security hearing.

Republicans have focused on Fauci's pandemic handling, public health guidance, views on the virus' origins, and alleged U.S. ties to a Chinese lab that some speculate may be the source of the crisis.

Johnson also detailed a new strategy for the Senate filibuster, particularly if Democrats regain full control of Congress. He suggested that Democrats might eliminate the filibuster to pass progressive legislation on a simple majority vote. Johnson proposed that to prevent this, Democrats would need to be put on record voting against ending the filibuster, thereby requiring 67 votes to alter the rule.

"The only way I can see Democrats not ending the filibuster is if you have to get them on the record voting not to end it," Johnson said. "Make sure that it is hard-and-fast Senate rule that you can only end the filibuster with 67 votes. You can't do it using the nuclear option."