EXCLUSIVE: Sen. Rand Paul Demands NIH Preserve All Documents, Communications In Fauci’s Possession

Henry RodgersAugust 23, 2022

Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul sent a letter Tuesday to the National Institute of Health (NIH) calling on them to preserve all documents and communications within Dr. Anthony Fauci’s possession related to his tenure at the NIH.

In the letter, first obtained by the Daily Caller, Paul called on the NIH to specifically preserve all records, e-mails, electronic documents, and data created by or shared with Fauci during his tenure at NIH that relates to COVID-19 or to coronavirus research conducted by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which Fauci has headed since 1984.

Paul also called on the NIH to notify all current and former employees to preserve any relevant documents, communications, or other information.

Fauci announced Monday that he plans to step down from a number of his government roles in December which include the director of NIAID, chief of the NIAID Laboratory of Immunoregulation and President Joe Biden’s chief medical advisor.(RELATED: ‘Sociopathic Liar And Political Hack’: America Reacts To Fauci’s Retirement Announcement)

“In light of this announcement, I formally request you ensure the preservation of all documents and communications within Dr. Fauci’s possession related to his tenure at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This information is critical to ensure that Congress has access to information necessary to conduct proper oversight regarding events that took place during Dr. Fauci’s tenure with the agency. Specifically, I request you preserve all records, e-mail, electronic documents, and data created by or shared with Dr. Fauci during his tenure at NIH that relate to COVID-19 including, but not limited to, NIAID-funded coronavirus research. This preservation request also includes all records of official business conducted on non official accounts,” Paul wrote in the letter. (RELATED: ‘Try To Cover Your Ass:’ Rand Paul Demands Fauci Resign For Refusing To Admit To Funding Gain Of Function Research In Wuhan)

READ THE LETTER HERE:

(DAILY CALLER OBTAINED) — … by Henry Rodgers

“For purposes of this request, ‘preserve’ shall be construed to mean taking reasonable steps to prevent the partial or full destruction, alteration, testing, deletion, shredding, incineration, wiping, relocation, migration, theft, mutation, or negligent or reckless handling that could render the information incomplete or inaccessible. Additionally, I request that you notify all relevant individuals, including current and former employees, officials, detailees, contractors, subcontractors, or consultants, to preserve all potentially relevant documents, communications, or other information,” Paul continued. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Top Republicans Demand Answers On Government-Funded Gain-Of-Function Research)

The NIH did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller’s inquiries about the letter.

“Dr. Fauci misled the American people on public health guidance throughout the pandemic, lied to Congress under oath, and funneled tax dollars to fund dangerous research in communist China. The American people deserve transparency and accountability from the NIH regarding the COVID-19 pandemic regardless of Dr. Fauci’s future employment plans,” Dr. Paul told the Daily Caller before sending the letter.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Paul has clashed repeatedly with Fauci, claiming that the public health expert had suppressed the lab-leak theory and imposed excessively strict lockdowns and mask mandates. Fauci, for his part, has accused the Kentucky senator of demonizing him for “political gain.”