Senator Rand Paul subpoenas Fauci for July testimony

Senator Rand Paul has issued a subpoena compelling Dr. Anthony Fauci to testify publicly before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee next month. The move, announced by Paul on June 22, came after Fauci withdrew from a previously agreed voluntary appearance.

Paul, who chairs the committee, stated that Fauci notified the panel last week that he would not voluntarily testify. The senator subsequently issued the subpoena, which he described as the first of his chairmanship. The hearing is scheduled to take place in July, though a specific date has not been released.

The planned testimony is expected to focus on several long-standing controversies surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Lawmakers are anticipated to question Fauci on federal funding for coronavirus research, particularly gain-of-function studies at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China, and the origins of the virus. Paul has previously argued that Fauci provided misleading testimony to Congress regarding this funding.

The subpoena follows recent actions by outgoing Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who on her final day in office last week declassified documents related to...