Washington — Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky has made public over a thousand pages of diary entries from Dr. Anthony Fauci. This sets the stage for what is expected to be a heated hearing with the former leading infectious disease expert of the nation concerning the COVID-19 pandemic origins.
Senator Paul, leading the Senate Homeland Security Committee, has subpoenaed Dr. Fauci for this session as part of an investigation into the coronavirus’s origins. Paul insists that the virus came from a lab leak at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China, contesting the notion that it naturally jumped from animals to humans. Paul has long accused Fauci and other officials of misleading the public and Congress.
The diary entries span from December 2019, just before the U.S. declared a public health emergency, to December 2022, when Fauci left his role as Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a position he held for nearly 40 years.
Many scientists believe the virus naturally emerged from infected bats. This hypothesis posits the virus spread to humans through other species at a Wuhan market, the site of the first known human cases in late 2019. Contrarily, the FBI has concluded the virus most likely resulted from a “lab incident in Wuhan.” In January 2025, the CIA supported the “lab leak” theory but admitted to low confidence in this assessment.
We know the market was not the source, it was the amplifier,
Fauci wrote in January 2020, noting that the virus may have jumped from animals to humans. Days later, a conference call with prominent infectious disease experts questioned whether the virus originated organically.
On Monday, Paul accused Fauci of being inconsistent by writing one thing privately while publicly denying the lab origin theory. In May 2021, Fauci wrote about press difficulties related to his changing stance on the origin. He urged a comprehensive investigation, admitting uncertainty about the virus’s source.
Regarding his media interactions and relations with then-President Trump, Fauci often appeared bemused by the public’s newfound admiration. In May 2020, he noted his sudden fame and President Trump’s favorable yet competitive attitude toward him.
Fauci described amicable early exchanges with Trump, becoming uneasy with media portrayals of conflict between them. While denying any intention of disrespect, Fauci criticized Trump’s lengthy and disorganized press conferences.
Fauci’s journal reveals moments of tension, such as an argument where Trump accused Fauci of hindering economic recovery. Despite disagreements, Fauci stated they maintained a respectful relationship.
By August 2020, as Trump’s tone shifted, Fauci expressed frustration with Trump’s erratic behavior and public criticisms. He once expressed his views on Trump’s inaccuracies regarding COVID-19 statistics.
CBS News has asked Fauci and the White House for comments. Paul’s team did not clarify how Fauci’s journal was obtained.
Fauci detailed his contentious interactions with Senator Paul, accusing him of spreading conspiracy theories linking Fauci to the Wuhan lab. Fauci labeled criticism of his emails and character as unfounded.
During a 2021 Senate session, Fauci and Paul clashed over allegations of U.S. funding for gain-of-function research at Wuhan. Fauci denied the accusation and directly challenged Paul’s credibility.
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