Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is calling for Dr. Anthony Fauci to be prosecuted for allegedly lying to Congress, and says he should receive five years in prison.
During an appearance on Fox News on Thursday, Paul said, “We’ve referred [Fauci] to the Department of Justice… Fauci should go to prison for five years for lying to Congress. They’ve prosecuted other people.”
“At the very least, he should be taken out of his position, because I think he has cost people’s lives through misinformation,” he added.
Watch the video below:
Sen. @RandPaul: “Fauci should go to prison for five years for lying to Congress … At the very least, he should be taken out of his position, because I think he has cost people’s lives through misinformation” pic.twitter.com/tiU3Axcnwy
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) December 2, 2021
Paul has repeatedly sparred with Fauci during Senate hearings, as IJR reported.
In July, the Kentucky senator referred Fauci for criminal prosecution for allegedly lying about whether the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded gain-of-function research in China.
And in November, the two men once again discussed the subject during a Senate hearing, and Paul called for the infectious disease expert to resign.
Fauci denied that the NIH funded gain-of-function research and added, “It makes me very uncomfortable to have to say something, but he is egregiously incorrect in what he says.”
“History will figure that out on its own,” Paul fired back.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has also called for Fauci to be prosecuted.
When asked about Cruz’s call for his prosecution, Fauci said, “I have to laugh at that. I should be prosecuted?”
“What happened on Jan. 6, senator?” he asked.
His comment refers to the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol when supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the building and interrupted lawmakers as they were certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Additionally, he brushed off Republican attacks against him as he said, “That’s OK. I’m just gonna do my job, and I’m gonna be saving lives, and they’re gonna be lying.”