Paul has pursued Fauci for years, alleging that Fauci obstructed accountability and may have made statements that could warrant criminal scrutiny. In his prepared remarks, Fauci accused Paul of being driven less by legitimate oversight than by a personal fixation on legal consequences. Paul pointed to notes from the early period of the crisis, arguing that what Fauci wrote privately about early uncertainties differs from what he told the public. Fauci supporters say the diary reflects the normal evolution of scientific understanding during a fast-moving outbreak. PHOTO- Dr. Anthony Fauci appears before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee at the Capitol, Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in Washington.