Shocking revelations from newly unearthed emails suggest that former White House Medical Advisor Anthony Fauci may have instructed federal officials to erase correspondence, directly contradicting his sworn testimony before Congress in 2024.
According to the Daily Caller, these documents, brought to light by Sen. Rand Paul, indicate Fauci's involvement in potential efforts to evade federal recordkeeping laws while addressing the origins of COVID-19 in early 2020.
The controversy began in early 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, with Fauci at the helm of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). On Feb. 1, 2020, Fauci directed his staff to explore connections between NIAID and the Wuhan Institute of Virology, located at the heart of the outbreak in China. This instruction hinted at early concerns about the virus’s origins, a topic that would soon become highly contentious.
The next day, on Feb. 2, 2020, Fauci emailed NIH Director Francis Collins with a specific request to remove a message after reading it. In that correspondence, Fauci wrote, “Please delete this e-mail after you read it,” raising questions about his intent to keep certain discussions private. This email also involved Wellcome Trust Director Jeremy Farrar and addressed managing public narratives around the potential lab origins of COVID-19.
In the same Feb. 2 exchange, Fauci expressed urgency in curbing conspiracy theories, stating, “Hopefully, we can get WHO to convene.” He believed a World Health Organization (WHO) panel could help control damaging speculation about the virus’s origin. Fauci also criticized WHO officials for slow action, noting their reluctance to offend, before again asking Collins to erase the note.
Additionally, in the Feb. 2 messages, Fauci shared frustrations about WHO’s pace with Collins, highlighting his dissatisfaction with specific officials. He wrote, “Mike and Bernhard are good people but they really slow things down,” pinpointing delays in response efforts. This pattern of requesting deletions continued to emerge in later correspondence, casting doubt on transparency during a critical time. In an April 2020 email to his chief-of-staff, Greg Folkers, Fauci vented frustration over Sen. Rand Paul’s remarks on New York’s death rate. He sharply criticized Paul, stating, “As usual he is full of s..t,” before once again asking for the message to be removed. Fauci added, “I do not want to engage anymore with this nonsense,” signaling his desire to avoid further conflict.
Questions about Fauci’s inner circle concealing communications have persisted since 2023, when subpoenaed emails revealed troubling behavior by senior adviser David Morens. Morens, in an April 21, 2021, email, discussed using private channels to reach Fauci, stating, “I can either send stuff to Tony on his private email or hand it to him at work or at his house.” He further noted, “He is too smart to let colleagues send him stuff that could cause trouble,” suggesting a deliberate effort to avoid scrutiny.
Morens also described a “back channel” system within Fauci’s office during congressional testimony, hinting at secretive communication methods. Additionally, Fauci’s chief-of-staff, Greg Folkers, came under fire for using odd characters in emails, potentially to hinder Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests related to COVID-19 origins. These actions have fueled suspicions of systematic efforts to obscure public records during the pandemic’s early stages.
In his 2024 testimony before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, Fauci firmly denied any attempts to obstruct FOIA or hide documents. He also distanced himself from Morens, despite their nearly 20-year professional relationship, in an effort to separate himself from the allegations. Fauci did not respond to recent requests for comment on the newly revealed emails published by Sen. Paul.
Sen. Rand Paul, a vocal critic of Fauci, shared these incriminating emails on X on a recent Wednesday morning, though the exact date remains unspecified. As chair of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs, Paul has long investigated the origins of COVID-19. His persistence has brought renewed attention to Fauci’s actions during the critical early months of the pandemic.
Further complicating the narrative, Peter Daszak of EcoHealth Alliance, who received funding from Fauci’s institute, collaborated with the Wuhan Institute of Virology on coronavirus research. This connection has intensified scrutiny over whether U.S.-funded experiments could be linked to the virus’s emergence. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard confirmed her office is probing a possible lab leak with U.S. ties, though no timeline was provided.
FBI Director Kash Patel, speaking on the Joe Rogan podcast in June of an unspecified year, revealed the agency obtained Fauci’s phone as part of a broader COVID-19 origins investigation. Patel noted collaboration with Sen. Paul, indicating ongoing federal interest in the matter. These developments suggest that the full scope of Fauci’s communications and actions may yet come to light.
The emails and related findings have reignited debates over transparency among public health leaders during a global crisis. With billions in biomedical research funding under their oversight, officials like Fauci and Collins wielded significant influence over public perception. Their apparent efforts to manage narratives, as seen in early 2020 discussions, continue to raise critical questions.
As investigations by Congress, the FBI, and other entities proceed, the public awaits clarity on whether federal recordkeeping laws were violated. The involvement of high-profile figures and institutions underscores the importance of accountability in public health governance. These revelations could shape future policies on transparency and FOIA compliance in times of crisis.