Senator Rand Paul Releases Fauci’s Diary Criticizing Trump

In January 2019, Dr. Anthony Fauci privately noted that President Donald Trump should be impeached. This information comes from diary entries attributed to Fauci, which were released by U.S. Senator Rand Paul. This marks the first public disclosure of Fauci’s call for Trump’s impeachment using his own words.

Earlier entries from Fauci’s diaries, published last summer, revealed he had described Trump privately as an ‘idiot,’ ‘out of control,’ and ‘a true embarrassment.’ The recent release is the second batch of entries from Fauci’s personal diary. It follows the release in July of entries covering the pandemic era from December 2019 to December 2022. Additionally, Paul released a collection of historical records and email correspondence from 2001 to July 2015.

Paul announced the diary release through a series of posts on social media platform X. In these posts, he shared highlights from the pages, which are accessible via the senator’s official website. This disclosure coincides with a Republican-led congressional effort to review Fauci’s professional decisions and records over his lengthy government career.

The diary adds to ongoing discussions regarding political impartiality, government record management, and the handling of disputed research. Newsweek reached out to Fauci for comment through an email sent to Georgetown University, where he serves as a Distinguished University Professor. Newsweek also contacted the White House and the National Institutes of Health for comments and is awaiting responses.

Why It Matters

Senator Paul, chairing the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, is employing the diary as evidence in a broader investigation into Fauci’s actions. The committee voted along party lines to pass a contempt resolution after Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment numerous times during a hearing. Democrats on the committee argue that the investigation is biased, and Fauci might still face legal risks even though he holds a federal pardon covering specific conduct dates.

Fauci’s Private View of Trump

The 203-page diary fills gaps between earlier records and the COVID-era journals released previously. It bears the label ‘Released by Chairman Rand Paul.’ The diary highlights Fauci’s changing perspective of Trump through the years.

On January 21, 2017, after family members participated in women’s marches, Fauci criticized Trump’s behavior, noting his comments about inauguration attendance and media attacks. By March, Fauci described the Trump administration as ‘a scary bunch,’ calling them ‘unscrupulous’ for proposing substantial funding cuts, including to the NIH.

Fauci wrote in January 2019, during a government shutdown, that Trump’s behavior warranted impeachment. He noted Democrats hesitated, fearing galvanizing Trump’s supporters. Earlier notes reveal Fauci’s concern before Trump took office, criticizing Trump’s debate performance in 2016 and noting that controversial past comments did not sway his loyal voter base.

Lost Files and China Briefings

The diaries offer insights into the government workings. Fauci noted in July 2016 that ransomware erased important files, including confidential documents linked to anthrax attacks. In 2017, he hosted the China CDC Director and met other significant Chinese officials.

In January 2019, Fauci questioned the classification of intelligence on China’s Ebola technology efforts, noting similar data appeared publicly. In December, he attended a secure meeting on Chinese genetics work in Africa, referencing his expertise for the invitation.

These entries gain weight following COVID-19 and ongoing arguments about Wuhan’s labs. Newsweek detailed how researchers brought the lab-origin theory into mainstream discussions, though it does not establish the pandemic’s origin.

What Happens Next

The contempt referral now awaits the Justice Department, which has no obligation to act on it. Newsweek’s story utilized its AI assistant, Martyn, for production.