Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has referred Dr. Anthony Fauci to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for alleged perjury, based on an email that appears to show that Fauci knew that the NIH was funding gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, but he denied this under oath to Congress in 2020.
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| Sen. Rand Paul questions Dr. Anthony Fauci during a Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing about the federal response to monkeypox on Sept. 14, 2022. (Drew Angerer / Getty Images) |
Gain-of-function research is research that is designed to make viruses more transmissible or more deadly. Some scientists believe that this type of research could create a new pandemic virus, while others believe that it is essential for understanding how viruses work and developing vaccines.
The NIH has said that the research that was funded at the Wuhan Institute of Virology did not involve gain-of-function research. However, the email that Paul has cited appears to contradict this claim.
The email, which was sent by Dr. Peter Daszak, the president of EcoHealth Alliance, to Fauci and other NIH officials, discusses the need to "do gain-of-function research" on bat coronaviruses. Daszak also writes that the NIH's funding for this research would be "covert."
Paul has said that the email is "smoking gun" evidence that Fauci lied to Congress. He has called on the DOJ to investigate Fauci and bring charges against him if the evidence warrants it.
The DOJ has not yet responded to Paul's referral. It is unclear whether the DOJ will open an investigation into Fauci.
Paul's referral is the latest in a series of attacks on Fauci by Republicans. Fauci has been a frequent target of criticism from Republicans, who have accused him of misleading the public about the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fauci has denied any wrongdoing. He has said that he has always been transparent about the NIH's funding for research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
The controversy over Fauci's role in the funding of gain-of-function research is likely to continue. It is unclear what the ultimate outcome of the controversy will be. However, the controversy has already damaged Fauci's reputation and raised questions about the NIH's oversight of research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
Conclusion
The referral of Dr. Anthony Fauci to the DOJ by Sen. Rand Paul is a significant development in the controversy over the funding of gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. It remains to be seen whether the DOJ will open an investigation into Fauci, but the referral has already raised questions about Fauci's credibility and the NIH's oversight of research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
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