The rivalry between Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Dr. Anthony Fauci is no secret — and neither is Paul’s determination to hold the nation’s outgoing top doctor accountable for his role in the response to COVID-19.
Fauci announced on Monday that he would depart from his role as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, as well as the chief medical adviser to President Joe Biden.
Paul, a known adversary of Fauci’s, tweeted Monday afternoon that his departure would not stop an investigation into the origins of COVID-19, something he has been advocating since the beginning of this year.
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“Fauci’s resignation will not prevent a full-throated investigation into the origins of the pandemic. He will be asked to testify under oath regarding any discussions he participated in concerning the lab leak,” Paul tweeted.
Fauci’s resignation will not prevent a full-throated investigation into the origins of the pandemic. He will be asked to testify under oath regarding any discussions he participated in concerning the lab leak.
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) August 22, 2022
In August, Paul led a hearing through the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight to discuss whether or not gain-of-function research contributed to the spread of COVID-19, the Washington Examiner previously reported.
Paul accused Fauci in July of creating “superviruses” during experiments allegedly funded by the NIH in the Wuhan Institute of Virology — the ground zero city of COVID-19. Fauci dismissed his claims as “entirely and completely incorrect.”
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Several congressional Republicans, including Paul, have spoken out, stating they would support an investigation into Fauci if they regain the House or Senate in the November 2022 midterm elections.
“One way or another, if we are in the majority, we will subpoena his records and he will testify in the Senate under oath,” he said, according to the Hill.
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Fauci is set to leave his position in December, marking the end of 38 years in his director role and over a 50-year career in government services.
Fauci said in his statement that while he is leaving his current role, he is not retiring, instead focusing on the next phase of his career to “advance science and public health and to inspire the next generation of scientific leaders.”
