Fauci Faces Continued Scrutiny Over COVID-19 Actions and Records

Dr. Anthony Fauci remains under scrutiny on Capitol Hill following a contentious Senate hearing. The House Oversight Committee has raised questions about Fauci’s COVID-19 era diary and cellphone records, which were not provided to Congress until this year. The committee attributes this delay to the actions of former Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra.

On Monday, Chairman James Comer wrote to Becerra emphasizing a 2023 request for Fauci’s records. This request included terms like ‘COVID-19,’ ‘gain-of-function,’ and ‘Wuhan,’ which appeared in Fauci’s diary. Comer criticized the failure to include diary portions in the response or even acknowledge their existence. This has led to concerns about an intentional withholding or inadequate search of department records.

Current HHS Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has since handed over Fauci’s diary and cellphone to Senators Rand Paul and Ron Johnson. The release of this diary has sparked significant backlash, with critics alleging Fauci enjoyed his fame during the pandemic despite widespread government-imposed restrictions affecting millions.

The diary’s more than 1,000 pages provide insight into Fauci’s thoughts as pandemic science evolved. It also includes entries reflecting on his rising public profile. During a 2024 Oversight Committee hearing, Fauci stated, ‘The CDC was responsible for those guidelines to schools, not me,’ referring to policies like the six-foot distancing rule that impacted school closures. Yet, diary entries reveal that Fauci discussed school closures with political figures, such as convincing then-Mayor Bill de Blasio to close NYC schools in 2020.

During his Senate hearing, Fauci frequently invoked the Fifth Amendment, facing questions about the pandemic’s impact and diary revelations. Becerra, who is now running for governor of California, is under scrutiny. Comer has requested Becerra to clarify by September 2 if he knew about the diary, why it was not initially produced, and if pressure was applied from fellow Biden officials to withhold information.

This situation follows former Fauci advisor David Morens’ guilty plea to conspiracy in concealing COVID-19 records related to grant funding. In a 2024 House hearing, Fauci admitted Morens’ editing of a press release and a letter to the National Institutes of Health was inappropriate and violated federal health policy.

Elizabeth Elkind, a politics reporter for Fox News Digital, is covering developments in the House of Representatives. Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind or send tips to [email protected].