Rand Paul targets Fauci in letter to AG Garland – Potential legal consequences for the doctor.

I’ve‌ referred Anthony Fauci to⁢ the ⁢DOJ (again) ⁤for lying to Congress when he denied ⁣the⁤ NIH was ​funding of ⁤gain-of-function ‍research in Wuhan. https://t.co/LuPDleRhYW

—⁣ Rand Paul (@RandPaul) ‌July 18,‍ 2023

Paul’s⁤ Allegations and Fauci’s Testimony

According ⁢to the Daily ​Mail,​ Paul wrote⁣ last ‍week to ⁣Attorney ⁣General Merrick Garland ‍citing Fauci’s testimony during⁤ a⁤ 2021 Senate ⁤hearing in ⁣which ⁣Paul ‍accused ⁤the National Institutes⁤ of Health — the umbrella agency‌ for​ Fauci’s ⁤NIAID⁢ — ⁤of funding​ “gain-of-function” ⁣research at⁤ the ​Wuhan Institute⁢ of Virology, ​the Chinese‍ biomedical ‍laboratory in the area ⁣where the COVID-19 pandemic‍ began.

(“Gain-of-function” generally refers⁤ to genetically altering⁢ a⁢ virus to make‍ it‍ more infectious‍ to⁤ humans.)

During⁢ the‌ hearing, Paul noted ​a research paper produced⁤ by Wuhan Institute​ of Virology scientists ⁤discussing⁤ findings from ​“gain of function research” ⁤and ⁢acknowledged‌ funding ​from‌ the ‍NIH.

Fauci‌ stated that ‌the NIH⁢ “has not ever and​ does not now ⁢fund gain-of-function research in the Wuhan⁢ Institute‌ of Virology.”

A ‌Washington Post “Fact⁢ Checker” ⁣column from May 18, 2021, acknowledged⁢ that the ⁤dispute largely ​involved​ the definition ⁢of ‍“gain-of-function”‌ in research. However, ‌the column came down on Fauci’s side, noting that the ⁣“NIH connection to possible ‍gain-of-function research appears so far⁣ to ‌be elusive.”

The column gave⁤ Paul ⁤a rating​ of “two⁢ Pinnochios,”​ which‌ relates to a statement that includes “(s)ignificant​ omissions and/or exaggerations.⁤ Some ‍factual ⁤error may be involved but not necessarily. A politician can ​create ⁢a false, ⁢misleading impression by playing⁤ with‌ words and ⁢using legalistic ‍language‌ that means little ⁣to ⁣ordinary ⁢people. (Similar to ‘half ⁤true.’)”

The‍ column noted ⁢that the “NIH connection to⁤ possible ⁤gain-of-function research appears so far‍ to be elusive.”

However, ⁤at a Senate ⁣hearing in July 2021, reports ⁣had ⁤already ‌emerged ⁢that the NIH‍ had, ​in⁤ fact, funded “gain-of-function” research at the Wuhan Institute⁢ of ⁢Virology, and ⁢Paul⁤ gave​ Fauci a chance to retract his May ⁢testimony.

Fauci declined, and ⁢stated ⁤defiantly, “Senator Paul, I have ⁣never lied⁣ before the Congress, and I do not retract that⁣ statement.⁢ … You⁢ do not ‍know what you⁤ are talking ‌about, quite ‌frankly, ​and I want ​to‍ say that​ officially. You do not ⁣know⁢ what you are ⁣talking ​about.”

“Senator Paul, you do‌ not know ⁤what you are ⁣talking ‌about.”

— ⁢Dr. Fauci after ⁢Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) accuses him of lying ⁢to Congress⁣ about gain-of-function⁢ research in ⁤Wuhan​ lab. ​pic.twitter.com/aGhn3ua9r0

—⁤ The​ Recount (@therecount) July 20, 2021

Newly Released Documents and Potential Perjury

But ‍newly‍ released ​documents cast doubt​ on that.

In his letter to Garland, ⁢according​ to⁣ the⁤ Daily ⁤Mail, Paul ⁣wrote that ‍the ⁤U.S. ‍General Accountability ‌Office determined that the Chinese⁤ lab had⁢ received ‌NIH funding.⁢ It ‌also⁣ found that⁤ Wuhan University ​scientists had received NIH funding.

And in ⁣an email ‍cited ⁢by ⁤the Daily⁣ Mail ‍dated⁣ Feb. 1,​ 2020, Fauci himself⁣ described ‌research‍ in both ⁢places⁢ as ⁢“gain of function.”

In the email,‍ Fauci acknowledged‌ discussions⁢ with scientists who were concerned that “gain⁤ of‌ function” research ‌in Wuhan could be behind the​ pandemic.

“They were‍ concerned about the⁤ fact ‌that … there‌ were mutations that⁢ would ​be most ⁣unusual to have‍ evolved naturally in the bats and there ⁢was‌ a suspicion that‌ this ​mutation‍ was intentionally inserted,” he wrote.

“The suspicion was ⁣heightened‍ by⁣ the fact⁣ that‍ scientists‍ in Wuhan ⁢University⁢ are‌ known​ to‍ have ‌been ⁤working​ on ⁤gain of⁢ function ‍experiments⁤ to​ determine the ​molecular associated⁣ with‍ bat viruses adapting​ to ​human infection, and the ⁤outbreak originated in‍ Wuhan,” ‌Fauci continued.

Yet‌ in the 2021 hearing, ⁣Fauci ⁢denied that the ​work in ‍Wuhan‌ fell under⁣ the heading of⁢ “gain ⁤of⁣ function” research.​ Considering ⁣he ​was under oath⁢ at‍ the ‍time, ‌that ⁣could constitute perjury⁤ —​ a crime ​that​ carries⁣ a potential ⁣punishment of ⁢five⁢ years imprisonment under⁣ federal law.

The email⁢ was released⁢ at‍ a hearing Thursday of ⁣the House ‌Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, the ‌Daily Mail ‍reported.

Fauci​ committed perjury when he testified⁤ to ⁣Congress that the‌ NIH had not funded⁤ gain-of-function​ research ‌in Wuhan.

Fauci now⁣ has been⁣ referred to ⁣Attorney ​General⁣ Garland for ⁢prosecution for perjury.

An‌ impartial Attorney ⁣General ⁤would ‌prosecute.https://t.co/E75CzFts9g

— ‍Richard H. ⁤Ebright (@R_H_Ebright) July⁢ 18, 2023

Past Requests ‍for⁣ Investigation

As ⁢Paul’s ‌Twitter post ‍indicated, his letter to Garland​ is not‌ the‍ first⁤ time ⁢he’s⁣ sought a criminal ⁢investigation⁣ of Fauci.

In July 2021, Paul wrote ‌to Garland ⁢with a ⁤similar request, also citing⁤ the⁣ May‌ 2021 ‌testimony.

The ⁣post Rand Paul Sets ‍Sights on Fauci ‍with Letter‌ to AG Garland‍ – This⁣ Could Land ⁣the ‌Doctor ⁢in Jail appeared‌ first on The‌ Western Journal.

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