Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced he will launch a legal investigation into former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Dr. Anthony Fauci. Uthmeier based his decision on Fauci's refusal to answer all 111 questions during Wednesday's Senate hearing, invoking his Fifth Amendment right.
In a statement on X, Uthmeier said, "Fauci's lack of transparency with Congress is unbelievable. My office is launching an investigation into Dr. Fauci. The time to learn the truth about what happened during COVID is long overdue."
In Light of Senator Rand Paul's Reports
Speaking exclusively to Fox News Digital, the Florida Attorney General said, "In light of the recent reports uncovered by Senator Rand Paul, we will investigate all possible violations of Florida law involving Anthony Fauci." Uthmeier stated that the investigation will focus on "what Fauci knew, when he knew it, and how he misled the American public."
The attorney general's move is based on internal notes from Fauci published by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Rand Paul. In these notes, which Paul described as "daily," Fauci privately estimated a lower COVID-19 death rate but publicly announced a higher rate.
In a record dated February 8, 2020, Fauci recounted a conversation with former CDC Director Tom Frieden, writing that the outbreak "resembles a bad flu in terms of transmission" and that the case fatality rate was "more likely 0.2-0.3% rather than 2.0%." However, a month later, on March 11, 2020, in testimony before the House Oversight Committee, he announced a death rate of 1% and said it was 10 times more deadly than seasonal flu.
Contempt of Congress Charges
Fauci's refusal to answer questions at Wednesday's Senate hearing drew sharp reactions from Republican senators. Senator Ted Cruz argued that Fauci should be found in contempt of Congress despite receiving a presidential pardon.
Senator Rand Paul announced that his committee will vote next week on whether to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress.
