Paul said he intended to send the contempt resolution to the Department of Justice as a formal referral rather than waiting for a Senate floor vote. A Justice Department spokesperson later confirmed the office had received the referral and would work with the Senate on next steps. Beyond the federal referral, Fauci now also faces state-level scrutiny, with Louisiana joining Florida and Alabama in opening investigations into his conduct during the pandemic. That Louisiana has joined the state-level probes already underway in Florida and Alabama suggests Fauci's legal exposure is expanding along a parallel track independent of whatever the Justice Department decides about the congressional referral. Attention going forward is likely to center on how the Justice Department responds to Paul's referral, and on whether U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro's office pursues any charges against Fauci.