Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced on Wednesday, July 30, 2026, that his office is launching an investigation into Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). This decision follows Fauci's refusal to answer questions during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic, where he invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination 111 times.

"Fauci’s lack of candor to Congress is unbelievable," Uthmeier wrote on social platform X. "My office is launching an investigation into Dr. Fauci. It's past time we get the truth of what happened during COVID."

Fauci, who served as the face of the country's pandemic response for 38 years, stated in his opening remarks that committee Chair Rand Paul’s (R-Ky.) "obvious obsession" with prosecuting him compelled his decision to plead the fifth. Fauci remarked, "The only conclusion I can reach is that the sole reason he is calling me before this committee is to get me to say something, anything that could vindicate his repeated public pledges that I end up in his words ‘behind bars.’"

Ashley Moody (R), a member of the committee, described Fauci’s refusal to answer questions as "incredibly frustrating" and "tragic" for the country. She added, "Everything we did to keep Washington out of our lives in Florida, which made Florida the free state, that was really on trial today, and he couldn’t answer a question because he took the fifth every time."

Following the hearing, Senator Rand Paul said he will push for a committee vote next week on holding Fauci in contempt of Congress.

Uthmeier further stated that the investigation will focus on what Fauci knew, when he knew it, and how he may have misled the American people. The inquiry will examine any physical and monetary harms to Floridians that may have resulted from Fauci's actions and determine whether his conduct exposes him to liability under Florida state law. He also referenced recent reports exposed by Senator Rand Paul as a basis for investigating any potential violations of Florida law involving Fauci.

James Uthmeier also spoke at the National Conservative Convention scheduled for September 3, 2025, in Washington, D.C.

Notable Quotes

  • "Fauci's lack of candor to Congress is unbelievable. My office is launching an investigation into Dr. Fauci. It's past time we get the truth of what happened during COVID," said Uthmeier.
  • "In light of recent reports exposed by Senator Rand Paul, we will investigate any and all potential violations of Florida law involving Anthony Fauci," Uthmeier added.
  • "Our inquiry will focus on what Fauci knew, when he knew it, and how he misled the American people. We will examine the physical and monetary harms to Floridians that may have resulted from his deceptions and determine whether his conduct exposes him to liability under state law," Uthmeier stated.
  • Reports suggest Fauci appeared to publicly overstate the death rate from COVID-19 compared to what he wrote privately.
  • "He and I are on the same page in thinking that this is acting like a bad influenza in its transmissibility and that the denominator is much greater than 34,867, making the case fatality rate more like 0.2-0.3% rather than 2.0%," according to statements cited.

Contradictions

Sources differ on the exact number of times Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment, citing figures ranging from 100 to 111 times.

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