Rand Paul Claims Evidence Suggests Fauci Destroyed Public Records

This claim contradicts Fauci's previous testimony, as reported by Breitbart News.

In a letter addressed to Fauci, which was viewed by Breitbart News, Paul disclosed that the committee was conducting an investigation into the origins of the Coronavirus. He further stated that the committee had procured records indicating that Fauci had allegedly instructed employees at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to eliminate federal records.

September 10, 2025

"The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is continuing to conduct its investigation into the origins of COVID-19 and risky life sciences research," Paul wrote. He added, "During the course of its investigation, the Committee has obtained records revealing that you directed employees of the National Institutes for Health (NIH) to destroy federal records."

Paul further alleged that these documents suggest Fauci's direct involvement in efforts to conceal information related to the Committees investigation, which appears to contradict his previous testimony before Congress. He invited Fauci to appear before the Committee to clarify his previous testimony.

In the letter, Paul highlighted that during a hearing before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic on June 3, 2024, Fauci denied under oath ever deleting official records. When asked by Congressman Comer, "Dr. Fauci, did you ever delete an official record?"

Fauci responded, "No." Similar denials were made when questioned by Congresswoman Lesko and Congresswoman Malliotakis about obstructing the Freedom of Information Act and deleting any email or records related to the Wuhan lab or the origins of the virus.

However, according to a June 2024 report by Reuters, the committee had uncovered emails showing top NIH officials trying to evade Freedom of Information Act requests, thereby hiding public records. These private emails suggest that some officials, including a long-time Fauci adviser and aide, deleted correspondence and used private emails to circumvent public record laws.

Paul further noted that emails obtained by the Committee appear to contradict Faucis testimony that he did not delete official records relating to COVID-19 or its origins. He cited an email dated February 2, 2020, in which Fauci directed then-NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins to delete the email after reading it.

Another email dated July 20, 2020, to an NIH employee stated, "I do not want to engage any more with this nonsense. And so, please delete this e-mail after you read it."

Paul expressed his belief that Fauci may be in possession of additional records relating to the committees investigation. He requested Fauci provide a list of all email addresses, phone numbers, and messaging application usernames used between January 1, 2018, and January 1, 2023.

He also asked for all email communications, including attachments, sent or received by Fauci during the same period that refer or relate in any way to NIH, HHS, CIA, FBI, DOD, COVID-19, or to the "Proximal Origins" paper, among other things.

The New York Post reported in May 2024, that emails revealed in a memo by the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic showed that Dr. David Morens, an adviser to Fauci, received help from an employee in the NIHs Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) office regarding how to make emails disappear.

Morens wrote in a February 24, 2021, email, "[I] learned from our foia [sic] lady here how to make emails disappear after I am foiad [sic] but before the search starts. Plus I deleted most of those earlier emails after sending them to gmail [sic]."

This ongoing investigation into the origins of the coronavirus and the alleged deletion of public records by high-ranking health officials raises serious questions about transparency and accountability in the handling of the pandemic. The outcome of this investigation could have significant implications for public trust in health institutions and their leadership.