# Rand Paul somehow gets AND RELEASES Anthony Fauci's COVID-era diary **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [July 28, 2026, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-paul-somehow-gets-and-releases-anthony-faucis-covid-era-diary/1031973 "2026-07-28T04:37:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2026, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-paul-somehow-gets-and-releases-anthony-faucis-covid-era-diary/1031973/81 "2026-08-01T14:14:02Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Defamation is not protected speach. But statements made in Congress are. > [@](#): > > Article I, Section 6, Clause 1: > > _The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States. They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; **and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.** _ > > The Supreme Court has described the Speech or Debate Clause as a provision that cannot be interpreted literally,[1](https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S6-C1-3-1/ALDE_00013300/#ALDF_00022437) but instead must be construed broadly in order to effectuate the Clause’s vital role in the constitutional separation of powers.[2](https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S6-C1-3-1/ALDE_00013300/#ALDF_00022438) Deceptively simple[3](https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S6-C1-3-1/ALDE_00013300/#ALDF_00022439) phrases—such as shall not be questioned, Speech or Debate, and even Senators and Representatives—have therefore been accorded meanings that extend well beyond their literal constructions.[4](https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S6-C1-3-1/ALDE_00013300/#ALDF_00022440) Arguably, this purpose-driven interpretive approach has given rise to some ambiguity in the precise scope of the protections afforded by the Clause. Despite uncertainty at the margins, **it is well established that the Clause serves to secure the independence of the federal legislature by providing Members of Congress and their aides with immunity from criminal prosecutions or civil suits that stem from acts taken within the legislative sphere.**** [5](https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S6-C1-3-1/ALDE_00013300/#ALDF_00022441)** As succinctly described by the Court, the Clause’s immunity from liability applies even though their conduct, if performed in other than legislative contexts, would in itself be unconstitutional or otherwise contrary to criminal or civil statutes.[6](https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S6-C1-3-1/ALDE_00013300/#ALDF_00022442)This general immunity principle forms the core of the protections afforded by the Clause. (My bold) [https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S6-C1-3-1/ALDE\_00013300/](https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S6-C1-3-1/ALDE_00013300/) ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Gordon\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_G)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2026, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-paul-somehow-gets-and-releases-anthony-faucis-covid-era-diary/1031973/82 "2026-08-03T19:05:22Z")
I think most intelligent Americans will treat Fauci’s pleading the 5th Amendment when asked for his name as a humorous and sarcastic insult at the whole idea of the hearing. and at the pretense that the red-shirt Senators are anything but crrupt and evil traitors. But Rand “The Illuminati stole our gold” Paul has threatened to persecute Fauci for contempt. Even most Trump-appointed judges would probably laugh at such a brainless lawsuit, but Fauci will still have to waste his time, and maybe spend his limited savings on lawyers. In a perfect world, Paul and his accomplices would be thrown in jail for this. Forcing “enemies” to waste time and money on inane lawsuits seems to be a favorite tactic of Trump and other red-shirts. Is it legal (albeit not tax-deductible) for a rich individual or PAC to pay the legal expenses of a victim like Fauci? I think I might do this if I had an extra billion dollars in disposable wealth. (Or would filing lawsuits against Paul and other corrupt traitors be an even better move?) Money, money and money seem to be the highest priorities in present-day political campaigns (see note); and restoring power to the good guys should be a highest priority for wealthy philanthropists. There are people who do give billions. “MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America’s $19.2 billion in megagifts last year.” Ms. Scott displays her philanthropies publicly; it’s almost all “DEI”-related. I wish she could see that the 2026 and 2028 elections are the essential priority right now. Note: As an example of the importance of money: Consider the campaign of the criminal Bill Paxton for Senator. I listened to one red-shirt bigwig (Lindsey Graham?) complain NOT that Paxton would lose the election, but rather that it would take $100 million to get him elected ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2026, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-paul-somehow-gets-and-releases-anthony-faucis-covid-era-diary/1031973/83 "2026-08-06T15:02:37Z")
So now a Senate committee has voted to hold Fauci in contempt for invoking the 5th amendment. How is that possible? I had the impression it was a basic right. Or is this yet another ploy to get attention despite the fact that it might accomplish exactly nothing? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2026, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-paul-somehow-gets-and-releases-anthony-faucis-covid-era-diary/1031973/84 "2026-08-06T15:07:01Z")
You’re saying that you’re surprised by Republican contempt for the Constitution? ---
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2026, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-paul-somehow-gets-and-releases-anthony-faucis-covid-era-diary/1031973/85 "2026-08-06T17:44:13Z")
> [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > So now a Senate committee has voted to hold Fauci in contempt for invoking the 5th amendment. How is that possible The argument is since Biden has preemptively pardoned Fauci, him using the 5th is just a way of not answering questions. If you don’t face criminal exposure, no need to invoke 5th. I dont agree. Or rather it’s not that simple. But that’s the basic argument. For context, Congress has voted for contempt in similar situations(invoking the 5th) but I don’t believe DOJ ever even charged. Because it’s your constitutional right to do so (and for Fauci it’s not certain preemptive pardons work as a complete blanket). So a stunt. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2026, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-paul-somehow-gets-and-releases-anthony-faucis-covid-era-diary/1031973/86 "2026-08-06T17:47:46Z")
Other than a perjury trap, are there any unanswered questions about the pandemic that Fauci would have insight into? Personally, I think I know what I need to know (for what’s knowable). ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2026, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-paul-somehow-gets-and-releases-anthony-faucis-covid-era-diary/1031973/87 "2026-08-06T17:48:15Z")
> [@CoolHandCox](#): > > So a stunt. I don’t quite agree. It would be a stunt with a normal and independent DOJ, but not _this_ DOJ. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2026, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-paul-somehow-gets-and-releases-anthony-faucis-covid-era-diary/1031973/88 "2026-08-06T17:53:02Z")
All of this because Fauci told Republicans to wear masks. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2026, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-paul-somehow-gets-and-releases-anthony-faucis-covid-era-diary/1031973/89 "2026-08-06T18:12:55Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > All of this because Fauci told Republicans to wear masks …_and_ care about their fellow human beings. Way to minimize the horrible impact he had on society! /s ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2026, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-paul-somehow-gets-and-releases-anthony-faucis-covid-era-diary/1031973/90 "2026-08-06T18:33:58Z")
Don’t forget, he also lied about China creating and releasing the virus, like the evil villains they are. Or something. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2026, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-paul-somehow-gets-and-releases-anthony-faucis-covid-era-diary/1031973/91 "2026-08-06T19:14:18Z")
Actually, Fauci’s pardon only covers the period from 1/1/14 to 1/19/25 so he’s free to plead the fifth for anything outside of those limits. I’d like to know what fucking difference it makes if the virus had a natural or man-made origin. They figured out how to beat it, that’s all that matters. I’ve seen lots of posts calling Fauci a mass murderer. What the actual fuck. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2026, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-paul-somehow-gets-and-releases-anthony-faucis-covid-era-diary/1031973/92 "2026-08-06T19:44:09Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I’d like to know what fucking difference it makes if the virus had a natural or man-made origin. Republicans are great at twisting things around for stupid people so that things that don’t make any difference whatsoever are treated as some kind of malfeasance. Like when Hillary Clinton asked “what [fucking] difference it made” what the motivation was of the mob in Benghazi. Similarly, Fauci was more concerned about what to do about the fact that the virus was killing people than obsessing over its origins. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2026, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-paul-somehow-gets-and-releases-anthony-faucis-covid-era-diary/1031973/93 "2026-08-06T19:56:02Z")
It’s truly difficult for me to imagine that this is about anything other than NOT talking about Iran, the economy, the rank corruption of the Trump family, or the Epstein files. What did the GOP House do during Biden’s Presidency _other than_ investigate the notorious Biden Crime Family? And – even before Joe pardoned his wayward kid – to what end? What came of it? They have nothing to offer in the future, so they constantly litigate the past. The marked difference is: everything _we know to be true_ about Trump and the MAGA Republicans is _infinitely worse_ than any of the lies they constantly tell us about the other side. But that’s the perquisite that comes of having acolytes who never abide information that doesn’t unflinchingly support their side. ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2026, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-paul-somehow-gets-and-releases-anthony-faucis-covid-era-diary/1031973/94 "2026-08-06T20:11:53Z")
> [@Gordon\_G](#): > > Note: As an example of the importance of money: Consider the campaign of the criminal Bill Paxton for Senator. I listened to one red-shirt bigwig (Lindsey Graham?) complain NOT that Paxton would lose the election, but rather that it would take $100 million to get him elected Bill Paxton was an actor (Apollo 13, Mighty Joe Young, U-571). Ken Paxton is the Texas Attorney General running for the Senate. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2026, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-paul-somehow-gets-and-releases-anthony-faucis-covid-era-diary/1031973/95 "2026-08-06T20:32:40Z")
> [@slash2k](#): > > Bill Paxton was an actor (Apollo 13, Mighty Joe Young, U-571). To be fair, his character on **Big Love** did successfully campaign for a seat in the Utah state senate. ---
**Author:** ![Jihi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jihi/32/17768_2.png) [@Jihi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jihi)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2026, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-paul-somehow-gets-and-releases-anthony-faucis-covid-era-diary/1031973/96 "2026-08-06T20:59:48Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > It’s truly difficult for me to imagine that this is about anything other than NOT talking about Iran, the economy, the rank corruption of the Trump family, or the Epstein files. Yep distractions again. And let’s destroy expertise a little bit more in this country because God knows we can’t have any authority higher than ignorant Republican senators. Oh, and grifting of course. Because you can always add grifting to the list. > **[Nonfiction Views: The grift behind Fauci’s persecution, plus this week’s...](https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/8/4/800079424/community/nonfiction-views-this-weeks-notable-new-nonfiction/)** > > Good evening, everyone. Back in June in Nonfiction Views, I wrote about the publishing houses that put out Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) propaganda of Health and Human Services anti-vax… > The New York Times has an interesting article on how the new efforts to rake medical hero Dr. Anthony Fauci over the coals once again not only are a desperate attempt to distract the public, but also have an element of grift to them. No surprise there, since it seems grift is the chief occupation of Trump and his enablers. Daily Kos has excerpts from the NYT article. I do not have a Times account but I will include the original article here as well in case somebody wants to be generous enough to provide a gift link for the thread. > **[Spotlight on Fauci Said to Boost Book Sales for Kennedy and His Publisher](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/03/us/politics/fauci-rfk-publisher.html)** > > Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his son, and Senator Rand Paul have all written books criticizing Dr. Anthony S. Fauci. All were published by a company led by a close Kennedy adviser. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2026, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-paul-somehow-gets-and-releases-anthony-faucis-covid-era-diary/1031973/97 "2026-08-06T21:25:14Z")
> [@Jihi](#): > > I do not have a Times account but I will include the original article here as well in case somebody wants to be generous enough to provide a gift link for the thread. [Here you go!](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/03/us/politics/fauci-rfk-publisher.html?unlocked_article_code=1.3VA.7YTt.YR-cHgL-xl1B&smid=url-share) ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2026, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-paul-somehow-gets-and-releases-anthony-faucis-covid-era-diary/1031973/98 "2026-08-06T21:27:42Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I’d like to know what fucking difference it makes if the virus had a natural or man-made origin. I suppose it would offer opportunities to shame China. And possibly to extort China. (‘It’s PROVEN that your lab did this, so you owe us umpty-umpty billion dollars!!1!!’) Republicans love stuff like that. And Fauci stubbornly refusing to say “yes, it came from a Chinese lab” stands in their way. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2026, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-paul-somehow-gets-and-releases-anthony-faucis-covid-era-diary/1031973/99 "2026-08-06T21:44:25Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I’d like to know what fucking difference it makes if the virus had a natural or man-made origin. If it was manmade and deliberate, then downplaying the pandemic, pushing to stop testing, and interfering with states that tried to take action wasn’t just incompetence in the face of a natural disaster, it was collaboration with the people who caused the pandemic. Now who was that? ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2026, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-paul-somehow-gets-and-releases-anthony-faucis-covid-era-diary/1031973/100 "2026-08-07T00:22:11Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > > [@BobLibDem](#): > > > > I’d like to know what fucking difference it makes if the virus had a natural or man-made origin. > > I suppose it would offer opportunities to shame China. The wet market was an illegal disgrace. COVID is the fault of shameful Chinese government activity, or inactivity, regardless. The Republicans like the lab leak theory because it is then the fault of educated experts some of whom may have worked on international projects that are easier to tie to the Biden administration than the operations of a Chinese food market. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-paul-somehow-gets-and-releases-anthony-faucis-covid-era-diary/1031973.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-paul-somehow-gets-and-releases-anthony-faucis-covid-era-diary/1031973.md?page=6)