Rand Paul Pushes To Fast-Track Criminal Referral Against Fauci Despite Senate Recess

Sen. Rand Paul is moving to accelerate efforts to refer Dr. Anthony Fauci for potential criminal prosecution, saying the Senate’s upcoming recess will not delay his push to hold the former top health official accountable following last week’s explosive COVID-19 hearing.

Paul, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, announced that he intends to seek unanimous consent to fast-track a vote on referring Fauci to the Justice Department rather than waiting until lawmakers return from recess. If unanimous consent is denied, the committee is expected to take up the matter immediately after the Senate reconvenes.

The Kentucky Republican argues Fauci’s repeated invocation of the Fifth Amendment during Wednesday’s hearing could warrant criminal scrutiny. Fauci declined to answer questions about the government’s COVID-19 response, gain-of-function research, and other pandemic-related issues, invoking his constitutional right against self-incrimination more than 100 times despite having received a broad federal pardon from former President Joe Biden.

Paul contends the pardon removes Fauci’s ability to claim Fifth Amendment protection because, in his view, there is no remaining risk of federal prosecution for the matters covered by the pardon. Fauci’s legal team has rejected that argument, maintaining that he was within his constitutional rights to refuse to answer the committee’s questions.

The hearing marked the latest chapter in the years-long dispute between Paul and Fauci over the origins of COVID-19 and the federal government’s pandemic policies. During the proceedings, Paul also ordered one of Fauci’s attorneys removed after repeated interruptions, while several Republican senators sharply criticized Fauci’s handling of the pandemic and accused him of misleading Congress.

Paul said he intends to keep the pressure on even while the Senate is out of session, arguing that Congress has a responsibility to pursue accountability without unnecessary delays. Whether the Justice Department ultimately acts on any criminal referral remains uncertain, but Paul has made clear that advancing the matter remains one of his top priorities when the Senate returns.