Louisiana joins probe into former NIAID director Anthony Fauci

Louisiana's Attorney General, Liz Murrill, has declared that her state will launch an investigation into Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). This move aligns Louisiana with Alabama and Florida, which are also pursuing investigations into the prominent immunologist.

Murrill stated on social media that the investigation seeks to ascertain whether Fauci engaged in any criminal conduct that could be tried in Louisiana's state courts. This decision comes in the wake of Fauci's appearance before the Senate last week, where he repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment, refusing to answer questions regarding his actions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the Senate hearing, Fauci cited the Fifth Amendment's protection against self-incrimination over 100 times. He claimed not to recall many key details about his own actions, a stance that has drawn further scrutiny. Contemporaneous records are reportedly being uncovered that Fauci himself maintained.

Beyond the state-level investigations, Republican Senator Rand Paul has indicated his intention to pursue a contempt of Congress charge against Fauci for his refusal to testify. Paul announced that a committee vote on the matter is scheduled for the following week, labeling Fauci's actions as a "contempt of Congress."