Ron Johnson Challenges Fauci Over Covid Diary as Former NIAID Chief Invokes Fifth Amendment

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) confronted Dr. Anthony Fauci during Wednesday’s Senate hearing over newly revealed entries from the former health official’s Covid-era diary, accusing him of contradicting his own written account and asking whether he had “lied” to himself.
Fauci appeared before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee after portions of his pandemic-era diary were made public. The entries drew renewed scrutiny over his role during the Covid-19 pandemic, including what lawmakers described as his close relationship with members of the media and his embrace of newfound celebrity status.
The hearing quickly turned contentious.
Committee Chairman Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) opened the proceedings with sharp criticism of Fauci, accusing the former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director of “aiding and abetting the crime” of Covid lockdowns. Paul also argued that Fauci had damaged his own legacy through his dismissals of theories suggesting the coronavirus originated from a laboratory leak.
Fauci remained defiant throughout the hearing, repeatedly invoking his Fifth Amendment right in response to lawmakers’ questions. He also accused Paul of having an “unhinged obsession” with him as the exchanges grew increasingly heated.
At one point during the hearing, tensions escalated further when Paul ordered one of Fauci’s attorneys removed from the hearing room.
Later, Johnson took his turn questioning Fauci and focused on what he described as an apparent contradiction between Fauci’s diary entries and other evidence collected by the committee.
Johnson noted that investigators had reviewed 11 million pages of documents and had spoken with other individuals who were present during key pandemic discussions. He then cited a March 27, 2020, diary entry written by Fauci.
According to Johnson, the diary stated:
“To my surprise yesterday the POTUS sent a letter to governors outlining a plan to reopen county by county while monitoring the spread of virus in low risk counties. This was half baked and never shown to Deb or I before it was sent out.”
Johnson argued that the committee had evidence indicating Fauci was aware of the reopening plan and had either approved it or authored it.
“So I’ll just simply ask you, is that true?” Johnson said. “I mean, did you literally lie to your own diary? Did you know of that letter sent out to governors about reopening county by county?”
The Wisconsin Republican concluded by asking the committee chairman to direct Fauci to answer what he described as “that one simple question.”
Fauci declined to respond.
“On the advice of counsel I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution,” Fauci said.
The exchange mirrored Fauci’s responses throughout the hearing, as the former health official repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment rather than answering questions posed by members of the committee.
Johnson’s questioning centered on whether Fauci’s diary accurately reflected his knowledge of the Trump administration’s reopening strategy in March 2020, but the senator did not receive a substantive response before his allotted time expired.